Carlos Alcaraz: Record-breaking in Miami - and in the footsteps of Chang and Nadal
With a final victory, Carlos Alcaraz (ATP No. 16) could become the youngest winner of the Miami Open and follow two others.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Apr 02, 2022, 11:21 am
The "youngest" records in tennis have been shaking again since Carlos Alcaraz entered the Tour . The time of the "child prodigies" who had made the tennis tour unsafe in the 70s, 80s and 90s was actually over. The reason, above all: the increased demand for athleticism in current tennis and the fact that the older warriors only reach their best physical form in their mid-20s. And keep them well into their 30s thanks to smarter breaks and enlarged physio teams.
Alcaraz, however, is not impressed by this, like Rafael Nadal in his early days, he seems extremely physically trained at the age of 18. And attacks the record lists.
Carlos Alcaraz is second youngest Miami finalist
Also in Miami: thanks to reaching the final, Alcaraz is the second youngest finalist in the history of the tournament, at 18 years and 333 days. Only Rafael Nadal was younger at 18 years and 304 days in 2005.
Nadal lost to Roger Federer in a dramatic final in 2005, after a 2-0 set lead (at that time the final was still played for three winning sets.)
So should Alcaraz win his final against Casper Ruud, he would be the youngest Miami winner ever.
Recent Masters winners: Michael Chang and Rafael Nadal
In terms of Masters tournaments in general, Michael Chang and Nadal are ahead of Alcaraz no matter how the final ends.
Chang had won in Toronto in 1990, at the age of 18 years and 157 days (after becoming the youngest player ever to win a Grand Slam tournament at the French Open in 1989 at just 17 years and 110 days).
And Nadal had won his first Masters tournament in Monte Carlo in 2005, when he was 18 years and 318 days.
Alcaraz would be "already" 18 years and 335 days old if he won in Miami.
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