Remembering a Milestone: Alcaraz’s Historic No. 1 Debut in 2022
At just 19, Alcaraz achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest player to clinch the top spot in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Date: September 12, 2025
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Carlos Alcaraz marked history by becoming the youngest No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings with his US Open victory in 2022.
By Jerome Coombe
On the first week of 2022, Carlos Alcaraz was ranked World No. 33, but in just nine extraordinary months, he elevated himself to the youngest No. 1 in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings as of September 12.
After making a splash as an 18-year-old in 2021, Alcaraz quickly garnered attention for his phenomenal skills. Securing his first tour-level title in Umag, he kicked off 2022—his inaugural full season on the ATP Tour—ranked comfortably within the World’s Top 50. From the get-go, his diverse shot-making abilities and on-court adaptability were clear.
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Alcaraz’s 2022 debut was nothing short of spectacular, as he dazzled fans by clinching the ATP 500 title in Rio, followed by a semi-final appearance in Indian Wells, where he pushed his idol, Rafael Nadal, to three sets. He then captured his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Miami. Despite a disheartening early exit in Monte-Carlo, he broke into the Top 10 for the first time and continued his meteoric rise.
Emerging victorious on home soil, the then-19-year-old claimed back-to-back titles in Barcelona and Madrid, making history by becoming the youngest player to defeat both Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a single tournament. As the North American hard-court swing approached, Alcaraz had amased an impressive 4,270 PIF ATP Rankings points, firmly positioning himself as a favorite for the US Open and a strong contender for the Nitto ATP Finals.
At Flushing Meadows, the No. 3 seed, Alcaraz faced intense challenges in an exhausting second week. His monumental five-hour, 15-minute battle against Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals—one of the longest matches in US Open history—was followed by another five-set thriller against Frances Tiafoe, leading him to a showdown with Casper Ruud for the title. This championship match was not only to secure a trophy but also to prove who would ascend to World No. 1.
The atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium was electric, but Alcaraz showcased his composure, clinching victory in a gripping four-set match and making history as the youngest player to reach the top of the PIF ATP Rankings at 19 years and four months.
“It’s surreal for me. I never imagined achieving something like this at 19,” Alcaraz reflected after the final. “It all happened so quickly. It feels unbelievable and has been a dream of mine since I started playing tennis. Winning this trophy is just amazing.”
Although an abdominal tear sidelined him from the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where he had qualified in the top position, he still celebrated receiving the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honors. Ultimately, Alcaraz spent an impressive 20 weeks at the No. 1 spot, making him the youngest player in history to do so.
