Carlos Alcaraz to enter top 10, mirrors idol Rafael Nadal after Barcelona Open triumph

Carlos Alcaraz is certainly the next big thing in men’s singles tennis. The 18-year-old won his 4th ATP title when he defeated Pablo Carreno Busta in the Barcelona Open final on Sunday.

It was a special feat for the Spanish teenager as he extended his record in tour-level finals to 4-0, hours after a grueling semi-final match that was postponed due to bad weather in Barcelona.

Alcaraz will enter the top 10 of the world rankings on Monday at the same age, on the same date and after a triumph in the same tournament as compatriot and 21-times major winner Rafa Nadal did in 2005. Alcatraz is expected to reach the 9th spot on the men’s singles charts.

Alcaraz, who reached the quarter-final of the US Open last year, joins Nadal, Carlos Moya and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero to win the ATP 500 tournament on clay from Spain.

The 18-year-old has won 3 titles this year, including the Masters 1000 crown in Miami. His first victory on the tour came at Umag last July when he became the youngest tour-level champion since Kei Nishikori claimed the title at Delray Beach in 2008.

Alcaraz said he is elated to have joined an elite Spanish list with his victory at the Barcelona Open.

“It means a lot. I’ve watched this tournament since I was a kid. I always wished to play in this tournament and of course be able to win this tournament,” Alcaraz said. “I’m really happy to be part of the (historic) Spanish list.”

The Next Gen ATP Finals champion had to work hard for his latest crown, with the semi-finals at Barcelona pushed to Sunday because of rain on Saturday and Alcaraz saved two match points to overcome Alex de Minaur 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 6-4. (With Reuters Inputs)