Carlos Alcaraz moves into the top 100 with a Challenger win in Oeiras
The Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP Challenger tournament in Oeiras, Portugal. It will be among the top 100 in the world for the first time on Monday.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit:
May 22, 2021, 07:50 pm
Carlos Alcaraz has won his fourth title on the ATP Challenger Tour - and his biggest to date. At the 125cc tournament in Oeiras he defeated Facundo Bagnis 6: 4, 6: 4 in the final.
Alcaraz is mercilessly continuing his ascent to become the top tennis player. In late summer 2020 he won three Challenger titles in Trieste, Barcelona and Alicante and thus stalked the Top 100, at the Australian Open 2021 he qualified for a Grand Slam tournament for the first time and won a round in the main draw.
"I'm very happy to be in the top 100 now," said the 18-year-old following his win in Oeiras. "It was one of my dreams as a kid. To have made it here in Portugal is great. A great place. I will keep Portugal in mind because it worked out in the top 100 here."
Carlos Alcaraz: youngest player in the top 100
Alcaraz is world number 114. started the tournament, on Monday he will line up for 94th place in the ATP ranking - and thus place the youngest player among the top 100.
Alcaraz last took part in the ATP Masters tournament in Madrid and was allowed to run there after an opening win over Adrian Mannarino against Rafael Nadal - on his 18th birthday of all places. Nadal, however, did not care, he won 6: 1, 6: 2. "It wasn't the day to give out birthday presents, was it?" He said jokingly afterwards, confirming that Alcaraz had a great future.
Alcaraz trains at the JC Ferrero Equelite Academy , the former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero was also there when his protégé won in Oeiras.