Fachan makes a compelling case.
So as to add to the talked about checklist above, Alcaraz is the youngest participant to finish the Channel Slam (Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical 12 months) and the Floor Slam (main wins on grass, clay and onerous courts) apart from being the youngest World No. 1 ever at 19 years and 129 days.
Alcaraz can also be the primary exterior the “Large Three” to win 4 majors within the twenty first century, a feat that eluded Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka, the one others to win at the least three majors for the reason that 12 months 2001.
All that mentioned, Alcaraz will not be the youngest to win 4 majors at 21 years and 70 days — his age when he beat Djokovic for his second Wimbledon title on Sunday. Two others earlier than him achieved the feat a little bit sooner than he did, and one other iconic participant got here very shut.
Bjorn Borg
After profitable the 1974 French Open as an 18-year-old, Borg would efficiently defend his title the next 12 months. By the age of 21 years and 28 days, the Swede had captured the Roland Garros and Wimbledon on two events every. That is practically 50 days faster than Alcaraz.
How does Alcaraz stack up right here?
It is in all probability Benefit Alcaraz since Borg by no means gained a tough courtroom main, shedding 4 US Open finals in his profession and failing to advance previous the third spherical on the Australian Open.
The US Open typically switched surfaces in the course of the Nineteen Seventies, however Borg’s wins have been nonetheless restricted to clay and grass. Moreover, he didn’t grow to be World No. 1 till August 1977 when he was a 21-year-old, two years after Alcaraz.
Mats Wilander
Following within the footsteps of Borg, this Swede additionally received off to a rollicking begin as an adolescent. After capturing the 1982 French Open as a 17-year-old, he adopted it up with back-to-back Australian Open titles in 1983 and 1984. A couple of months earlier than his twenty first birthday, Wilander would seize his fourth main title, the 1985 French Open.
As such, Wilander captured his fourth main title a little bit sooner than Borg and Alcaraz, on the age of 20 years and 10 months.
Wilander has a powerful argument for the “biggest 21-year-old ever” title, however his incapacity to succeed on the grass courts in all probability weakens his case. The Swede by no means received previous the quarters in Wimbledon.
Honorable Point out: Boris Becker
Becker captured his first two Wimbledon titles (1985 and 1986) as an adolescent however needed to wait one other three years earlier than his subsequent two majors — the 1989 Wimbledon and 1989 US Open. As such, the German icon was roughly 21.5 years outdated when he reached the 4 main thresholds.
Alcaraz’s legacy will ultimately be decided by his longevity, for lots of the greats noticed a dip in efficiency as they entered their mid-20s and 30s. Nevertheless it’s onerous to argue that the Spaniard is as elite of a 21-year-old that the game has ever seen (together with the ladies’s recreation).
