TENNIS
How many Grand Slams had Rafael Nadal won at Carlos Alcaraz’s age?
At 21 years old, the Spaniard had lifted the same trophies in majors that the Murcian has now, although he had played two more finals.
On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz matched the remarkable feat previously set by Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros. The young Spaniard clinched his third Grand Slam title at the Philippe Chatrier court, triumphing over Alexander Zverev. At just 21 years old, Alcaraz mirrors the milestone that Nadal reached at the same age.
However, while Nadal’s early triumphs were all secured in Paris (2005, 2006, and 2007), Alcaraz has showcased his versatility across different surfaces. His Grand Slam victories include the US Open in 2022 on hard court, Wimbledon in 2023 on grass, and now, Roland Garros in 2024 on clay.
| Player | ATP 250 | ATP 500 | Masters 1,000 | Grand Slams | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafal Nadal | 3 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 22 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 14 |
In contrast, by the age of 21, Nadal had already competed in two additional Grand Slam finals, both at Wimbledon (2006 and 2007). By the time he secured his third consecutive French Open title, Nadal boasted a total of 22 titles across all categories and had reached the finals on three other occasions.
Alcaraz, at the same age, has accumulated 14 titles and four finals appearances. In the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 series, Alcaraz has won five titles, while Nadal had claimed an impressive nine by the time he was 21.