Carlos Alcaraz Garfia

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia born on May 5, 2003, is a professional tennis player from Spain. He has achieved the top spot in men’s singles rankings by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and currently holds the third position. Alcaraz has an impressive record of winning fourteen ATP Tour-level singles titles, which includes major victories at the 2022 US Open, 2023 Wimbledon Championships, and 2024 French Open, as well as five Masters 1000 titles. After his triumph at the 2022 US Open, Alcaraz made history by becoming the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to reach the top of the singles rankings, achieving this milestone at the age of 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days.

Career Highlights

• Alcaraz’s journey as a professional tennis player began in 2018. By the age of 15, he had already clinched three ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour titles and four ATP Challenger Tour titles.
• His breakthrough came in May 2021 when he entered the top 100 rankings, and by the end of the year, he was among the top 35 players after an impressive run to the quarterfinals of the US Open.
• Fast forward to March 2022, Alcaraz secured his first Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open at just 18 years old. He followed this up with another victory at the Madrid Open, where he defeated tennis giants Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev in succession. Later in 2022, Alcaraz claimed his first major singles title at the US Open.
• Finishing the year as the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP ranking history, he was honored with the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award for his exceptional performance.
• The following year, in 2023, Alcaraz continued his winning streak by adding two more Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Madrid, and securing his second major title at Wimbledon by defeating Djokovic. In 2024, he made history by winning his third major title at the French Open, becoming the youngest man ever to achieve the career Surface Slam.
• Alcaraz making it to another Wimbledon final could make this Sunday a big day in Spanish sports history. During his interview on the court, Alcaraz mentioned Spain’s Euro 2024 final against England, hinting that Sunday will be “a good day for Spanish people.” The crowd at Centre Court responded with playful boos, to which Alcaraz replied, “I never said Spain will win, I just think it’s going to be a really enjoyable day,” he said, looking a bit flustered but still smiling brightly.

Early life

Carlos Alcaraz, born on May 5, 2003, in El Palmar, Murcia, Spain, comes from a family of tennis enthusiasts. His father, Carlos Alcaraz González, and mother, Virginia Garfia Escandón, raised him alongside his three siblings.

 

At the tender age of four, Alcaraz picked up a tennis racket for the first time at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father served as the tennis academy director.

With a family history deeply rooted in the sport, Alcaraz’s grandfather was one of the club’s founders. Despite his father’s own aspirations in tennis, he was unable to pursue a professional career in the sport. In 2018, Alcaraz made the move to Villena to train at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s JC Ferrero Equelite Sport Academy.

Playing style

Alcaraz is a versatile tennis player with an aggressive baseline playing style, focusing on powerful forehand winners. His ability to hit flat and fast forehands or add topspin with great net clearance makes him a formidable opponent.

His backhand groundstroke is also strong, often resulting in clean winners down the line. Alcaraz’s drop shot is a key weapon, catching opponents off guard after pushing them back with heavy groundstrokes. His net-game is impressive, with excellent drop volleys and drive volleys, and he’s not afraid to serve-and-volley on important points.

 

In 2024, Mats Wilander praised Alcaraz’s forehand as the “greatest of all time”, while Tim Henman described it as one of the “most devastating shots in the game currently”.

Alcaraz’s first serve is strong, typically reaching speeds of 115 to 120 mph with decent placement. His reliable second serve, with added topspin, can create high bounces to trouble opponents. Alcaraz’s athleticism and physical attributes, including quick sprints, counterattacking skills, and exceptional footspeed, have drawn comparisons to a young Rafael Nadal.

His court coverage, lateral movement, and defensive abilities have also been likened to Novak Djokovic, making him a well-rounded player on the court.

Alcaraz making it to another Wimbledon final could make this Sunday a big day in Spanish sports history. During his interview on the court, Alcaraz mentioned Spain’s Euro 2024 final against England, hinting that Sunday will be “a good day for Spanish people.” The crowd at Centre Court responded with playful boos, to which Alcaraz replied, “I never said Spain will win, I just think it’s going to be a really enjoyable day,” he said, looking a bit flustered but still smiling brightly.

Personal life

Family

Parents: Carlos Alcaraz Sr., his father, was a tennis player and played a significant role in his early training. His mother is named Virginia Garfia.

Siblings: Carlos has three siblings.

Early Life and Training

Alcaraz began playing tennis at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia, where his father served as the tennis academy director.

He later enrolled at the JC Ferrero-Equelite Sport Academy to enhance his skills under the guidance of former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.

 

Interests and Hobbies

In addition to tennis, Alcaraz enjoys playing golf and football.

He is a devoted fan of Real Madrid, a renowned football club in Spain.

Notable Achievement

• In 2022, a record was set by the youngest player to win the Miami Open at 18 years and 11 months, standing alone.
• The same year, another record was achieved by the youngest player to win the Madrid Open at 19 years, also standing alone.
• Additionally, in 2022, the youngest player to become ATP world No. 1 at 19 years and 4 months stood alone. In the same year, the youngest ATP year-end No. 1 at 19 years and 5 months also stood alone.
• Moving forward to 2024, the youngest player to win a Grand Slam singles final on three different surfaces at 21 years and 1 month stood alone.DO FOLLOW