ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz Reclaims His Crown: A Journey Through His Reigns at No. 1
The 22-year-old Spaniard ascends to the top once more after a two-year wait.
September 11, 2025
Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
On 8 September, Carlos Alcaraz officially began his fifth reign as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
By ATP Staff
At just 19, Carlos Alcaraz captured the tennis world’s attention by clinching his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. This remarkable victory catapulted him to become the youngest World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings’ history, marking a significant milestone at 19 years and four months. Over a span of just 12 months, Alcaraz enjoyed a remarkable four reigns at the top, with two happening before he even turned 20.
However, following Novak Djokovic’s breathtaking 24th Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open, Alcaraz faced a lengthy pause, waiting two years to reclaim the pinnacle of men’s tennis.
First Reign: September 12, 2022 – January 29, 2023 (20 weeks)
Carlos’s inaugural reign covered 20 thrilling weeks, starting right after the 2022 US Open and stretching through to the 2023 Australian Open. His victory over Casper Ruud at Flushing Meadows not only marked his first major title but also secured his position as World No. 1 the very next day.
Despite an injury sidelining him during part of this period, where he suffered an oblique tear and later a leg injury, he still finished the season proudly holding the ATP No. 1 title presented by PIF. However, Djokovic’s triumph in Melbourne meant the Serbian took back the top spot.
Second Reign: March 20, 2023 – April 2, 2023 (2 weeks)
Alcaraz didn’t waste any time upon his return to the Tour, winning 14 out of his initial 15 matches, including titles in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells, which allowed him to reclaim the No. 1 rank in March.
This back-and-forth battle continued as Alcaraz’s second stint lasted just a short two weeks before Djokovic regained the top position.
Third and Fourth Reigns: May 22, 2023 – June 11, 2023 (3 weeks); June 26, 2023 – September 10, 2023 (11 weeks)
Alcaraz experienced ups and downs again, momentarily regaining the top spot in May, only to lose it to Djokovic at Roland Garros. He came back strong at Queen’s Club, capturing the trophy and holding on to the No. 1 ranking for an impressive 11 weeks, during which he secured his first Wimbledon title, defeating Djokovic in an intense five-set final. However, Djokovic rallied back to retake his place, ultimately winning the 2023 US Open, marking another comeback to No. 1.
After a prolonged two-year hiatus, Carlos Alcaraz triumphantly returns to the pinnacle of the PIF ATP Rankings. His latest rise to World No. 1 follows a stunning run at the US Open, where he lost only one set—against rival Jannik Sinner in the final—en route to claiming his sixth Grand Slam title. Alcaraz ended Sinner’s impressive first stint at the top, which lasted 65 weeks, the fourth-longest debut timeframe in ATP history.
