ATP Tour
On This Day: Alcaraz makes historic No. 1 debut in 2022
At 19, Alcaraz turned youngest participant to achieve No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings
September 12, 2025
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Carlos Alcaraz turned the youngest No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings by profitable the US Open in 2022.
By Jerome Coombe
Carlos Alcaraz started the second week of 2022 because the World No. 33, however in simply 9 astonishing months he surged previous the game’s elite to develop into the youngest No. 1 within the historical past of the PIF ATP Rankings on September 12.
By bursting onto the scene in 2021 as an 18-year-old prodigy, the Spaniard instantly captured consideration along with his electrical expertise. Along with his first tour-level title in Umag, Alcaraz ensured that he would start 2022 — his first full season on the ATP Tour — ranked contained in the World’s High 50. From the outset, his diversified shotmaking and talent to adapt throughout surfaces was unmistakable.
Alcaraz introduced himself with early brilliance in 2022, dazzling en path to the ATP 500 crown in Rio earlier than reaching the semi-finals in Indian Wells — the place he pushed his idol, Rafael Nadal, to a few units. He then claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami. Though Alcaraz suffered a disappointing first-round exit in Monte-Carlo, the teenager entered the High 10 for the primary time, and didn’t cease there.
On house soil, the then-19-year-old soared to consecutive titles in Barcelona and in Madrid, the place he turned the youngest participant to defeat Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the identical match. Heading into the North American hard-court swing, Alcaraz had racked up 4,270 PIF ATP Rankings factors to not solely cement his standing among the many favourites for the US Open, however to place him in sturdy rivalry to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.
At Flushing Meadows, the third-seeded Alcaraz was put by way of his paces in an exhausting second week. His epic five-hour, 15-minute victory over Jannik Sinner within the quarter-finals — the third-longest match in US Open historical past — was adopted by one other five-setter in opposition to Frances Tiafoe to arrange a last with Casper Ruud. The championship match in opposition to the Norwegian doubled as a straight shootout to ascend to World No. 1.
The strain was palpable inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, however Alcaraz held his nerve over 4 thrilling units to safe the highest spot, changing into the youngest participant to achieve the top within the historical past of the PIF ATP Rankings at 19 years and 4 months.
“It is loopy for me. I by no means thought that I used to be going to attain one thing like that at 19 years outdated,” Alcaraz mentioned after the ultimate. “All the pieces got here so quick. For me, it is unbelievable. It is one thing I’ve dreamed of since I used to be a child, since I began taking part in tennis. After all, lifting this trophy right this moment is wonderful for me.”
Though Alcaraz suffered an stomach tear that saved him out of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, the place he certified in pole place, he was nonetheless current to obtain ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 introduced by PIF honours. The Spaniard, who went on to spend an preliminary 20 weeks on the summit, turned the youngest participant in historical past to obtain the award.
