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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Who is younger Major winner?

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The Open era started in 1968. Since then, eight players have won a Major title as a teenager, lifting 11 most notable titles before turning 20. Bjorn Borg did that at Roland Garros 1974, followed by Mats Wilander eight years later.

Boris Becker conquered Wimbledon at 17 in 1985 and repeated that a year later. Michael Chang became the youngest Major winner at Roland Garros 1989, and Pete Sampras claimed the US Open a year later. There were no teenagers with a Major title between 1991 and 2004, and Rafael Nadal changed that at Roland Garros 2005.

Seventeen years later, another Spaniard has added his name to the list, becoming the eighth teenager with a Major crown and probably the last one for the next decade or two! Carlos Alcaraz went all the way at the US Open at 19 years and four months, standing as the youngest Major winner since Nadal and the second-youngest in the past 30 years!

Carlos made incredible progress in only a couple of years, becoming one of the world’s best players and a contender for the top-tier titles. Alcaraz was the 4th seed in New York, winning seven matches and becoming the youngest world no.

1 with 2000 points on his tally. Carlos toppled three consecutive rivals in a five-setter and arranged the title clash against Casper Ruud. The Spaniard defeated the Norwegian 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 20 minutes to write history books.

Carlos Alcaraz is among the youngest Major champions.

Carlos and Casper produced three breaks each, and the younger player took only five points more. The Spaniard saved two set points in the third set’s 12th game and controlled the pace in the rest of the clash to lift the trophy.

Alcaraz fired 55 winners and 41 unforced errors, rushing to the net and keeping the points on his racquet. Carlos made a great start and broke in the opener’s third game. He fired a service winner at 5-4 to wrap up the first set in 49 minutes.

Ruud stole the momentum in the second set, saving a break chance at 2-2 and rattling off four straight games to clinch the set 6-2 and level the overall score after an hour and a half. They traded early breaks in the third set and served well until game 12.

Carlos had no room for errors at 5-6, and he saved two set points with winners to introduce a tie break and gain a boost. The Spaniard clinched it 7-1 to open two sets to one advantage and put one hand on the trophy. Alcaraz produced five comfortable holds in the fourth set and kept the pressure on the other side.

He broke Ruud in game six after the opponent’s loose backhand and fired a booming serve at 5-3 to seal the deal and earn a place in history.

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