Carlos Alcaraz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz at the 2026 Australian Open
Full name	Carlos Alcaraz Garfia
Country (sports)	Spain
Residence	Villena, Spain
Born	(2003-05-05) 5 May 2003 (age 22) El Palmar, Murcia, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro	2018
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Juan Carlos Ferrero (2019–2025) Samuel López (2024–pres.)
Prize money	US$60,032,046  5th all-time in earnings
Singles
Career record	287–65
Career titles	25
Highest ranking	No. 1 (12 September 2022)
Current ranking	No. 1 (10 November 2025)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	W (2026)
French Open	W (2024, 2025)
Wimbledon	W (2023, 2024)
US Open	W (2022, 2025)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	F (2025)
Olympic Games	F (2024)
Doubles
Career record	9–6
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 519 (9 May 2022)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2024)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open	1R (2025)
Medal record Representing  Spain Olympic Games Silver 2024 Paris Singles

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia (born 5 May 2003) is a professional tennis player from Spain. He is currently ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He also finished as the year-end No. 1 in 2022 and 2025.

Carlos has won 25 singles titles on the ATP Tour, including seven major Grand Slam tournaments. He is one of only nine men, and the youngest ever, to achieve a career Grand Slam in singles.

Carlos started his tennis journey in 2018 when he was 14. By May 2021, he entered the top 100 players in the world. He finished that year ranked No. 32 after reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open.

In 2022, Carlos won his first major title at the US Open. He became the youngest man and the first male teenager in the Open Era to reach the world No. 1 singles ranking. He was also the youngest year-end No. 1 in ATP history. For this amazing year, he received the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award.

In 2023, Carlos won his second major title at Wimbledon. He defeated seven-time champion Novak Djokovic in a memorable final. In 2024, he won the French Open and Wimbledon. He also earned a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

He won his fifth and sixth major titles in 2025. He defeated Jannik Sinner in the finals of both the French Open and the US Open. In 2026, Carlos won the Australian Open. This made him the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

Early Life and Tennis Beginnings

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia was born on May 5, 2003, in El Palmar, Murcia, Spain. His parents are Carlos Alcaraz González and Virginia Garfia Escandón. Carlos has an older brother, Álvaro, and two younger brothers, Sergio and Jaime.

Carlos started playing tennis at age four. He played at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia. His father was a tennis coach and club administrator there. Carlos's father also played tennis when he was younger. He stopped his professional career as a teenager because it was too expensive.

In 2013, when Carlos was 10, he signed his first contract with Babolat. An agent named Albert Molina saw him play at age 11. He recognized Carlos's special talent. His father agreed to work with the agent when Carlos was 12.

Carlos often travels to tournaments with his father and his brother Álvaro. Álvaro works as his hitting partner and assistant coach. During the tennis off-season, Carlos lives at his parents' home in Murcia. His friends and family call him "Carlitos" or "Charly".

Junior Tennis Career

At age 10, Carlos played in his first international tournament. It was the under-10 World Championship in Croatia, where he reached the final. That same year, he officially joined the Babolat team. He became part of their international group at age 13.

In 2015, Carlos won the under-12 Rafa Nadal Tour Masters. The next year, he won the under-14 title of the same competition.

In 2017, Carlos had a great season in the under-14 category. He won the XIV Taça Internacional Maia Jovem, beating Daniel Rincón. He also won the Babolat Cup. That summer, he helped Spain win the 14-and-under European Summer Cup. He was also part of the Spanish team that came second at the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals.

Carlos continued to improve in 2018. He won the Dutch Junior Open in July. Weeks later, he won the European 16-and-under Championship. At the Junior Davis Cup in Budapest, he helped Spain win the title. He even saved a match point in one singles match. Then he won the important doubles match.

In March 2019, Carlos won the J300 Villena tournament. He was ranked No. 1 on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour that year. As a junior player, his highest world ranking was No. 22.

Professional Tennis Journey

2018–2020: Starting as a Pro

In February 2018, at 14, Carlos played his first professional tennis event. He surprised everyone by beating a much higher-ranked player. He reached the quarterfinals and earned his first ATP points.

In April 2019, at 15, Carlos played his first Challenger tournament. He won his first match against Jannik Sinner, who was on a winning streak. This made Carlos the first player born in 2003 to win a Challenger match. He went on to win four Challenger titles before he turned 18.

In February 2020, at 16, Carlos played his first main-draw match on the ATP Tour. He won a long, exciting match against Albert Ramos Viñolas. He was the first player born in 2003 to win an ATP Tour match. Later that year, he played in the qualifying rounds for the French Open.

2021: First ATP Title and Next Gen Champion

Carlos made his debut in the main draw of a major tournament at the 2021 Australian Open. He was the youngest man to qualify for the tournament since 2005. He won his first match, becoming the first person born in 2003 to win a match at a major.

Alcaraz at the 2021 French Open

He received wildcards for several tournaments, including the Miami Open. At the Andalucía Open, he reached his first ATP semifinal. In May 2021, he entered the top 100 rankings. He was the youngest player to do so.

Carlos reached the third round of the French Open. He was the youngest man to reach this stage in 29 years. He then made his debut at Wimbledon.

In July, Carlos won the Umag Open. This was his first ATP title, making him the youngest ATP champion since 2008. At the US Open, he defeated world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas. He became the youngest man to beat a top 3 player at the US Open since 1973. He reached the quarterfinals, becoming the youngest US Open men's quarterfinalist in the Open Era.

Carlos qualified for the 2021 Next Generation ATP Finals. He won the title, dropping only one set throughout the tournament.

2022: US Open Champion and World No. 1

Carlos reached the third round of the Australian Open. He then won his first ATP 500 title at the Rio Open. He became the youngest winner of an ATP 500 event. He entered the top 20 rankings in February 2022.

At the Miami Open, Carlos won his first ATP 1000 title. He was the youngest men's singles champion in Miami Open history. In April, he entered the world top 10 for the first time. He was the youngest man to do so since Rafael Nadal. He then won the Barcelona Open.

One day after his 19th birthday, Carlos defeated Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open. The next day, he beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He became the only player ever to defeat Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back on clay. He then won the Madrid Open title.

Alcaraz at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships

Carlos reached the quarterfinals of the French Open. At Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round. He then reached two consecutive finals at the Hamburg Open and Croatia Open. These results helped him climb to world No. 4.

At the US Open, Carlos won his first major title. He defeated Casper Ruud in the final. This win also made him the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings. He was also the youngest men's major champion since Nadal in 2005. Carlos spent the longest time on court in major history during this tournament. He ended the year as the youngest world No. 1 in the ATP era.

2023: Wimbledon Champion

Alcaraz at the 2023 French Open

Carlos withdrew from the Australian Open due to injury. He lost the world No. 1 ranking to Novak Djokovic. He started his season by winning the Argentina Open. The next week, he reached the final of the Rio Open.

Carlos then returned to Indian Wells. He recorded his 100th career win there. He defeated Jannik Sinner in the semifinals and Daniil Medvedev in the final to win the trophy without losing a set. This was his eighth career title and third ATP 1000 title. He regained the world No. 1 ranking. He reached the semifinals of the Miami Open.

He successfully defended his title at the Barcelona Open. He also won his tenth career title at the Madrid Open. At the Italian Open, he secured the No. 1 ranking again. However, he was upset in the third round.

Carlos reached the semifinals of Roland-Garros, where he met Novak Djokovic. Djokovic won the match in four sets.

Alcaraz holding the Gentlemen's Singles Challenge Cup after winning the 2023 Wimbledon Championships

At the Queen's Club Championships, Carlos won his first title on grass. This victory also made him world No. 1 again. At Wimbledon, he reached the final. He faced seven-time champion Djokovic and won the match in an epic five-setter. This was his first Wimbledon title and second major title overall.

Carlos lost in the quarterfinals of Toronto. He then met Djokovic again in the Cincinnati final. Djokovic won a very long and exciting match. Carlos entered the 2023 US Open as defending champion. He reached the semifinals but lost to Daniil Medvedev. He ended the year ranked No. 2.

2024: Channel Slam and Olympic Silver

Alcaraz holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires following the men's singles final at the 2024 French Open

Carlos began 2024 at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. He then had to retire from the Rio Open due to an ankle injury.

As defending champion in Indian Wells, Carlos returned to form. He defeated Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, ending Sinner's 19-match winning streak. Carlos then beat Daniil Medvedev in the final to win his first title in eight months. In Miami, he reached the quarterfinals.

Carlos experienced an injury-filled clay season, withdrawing from several tournaments. He recovered in time for the French Open. He reached his first Roland Garros final, where he defeated Alexander Zverev in five sets. At 21, Carlos became the youngest male player to win a major title on three different surfaces.

Alcaraz receiving his silver medal following the men's singles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics

In July, Carlos defended his Wimbledon title by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets. He became the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete the Channel Slam (winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season). Carlos then played at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. He reached the singles final but lost to Djokovic, earning a silver medal.

Carlos skipped the 2024 Canadian Open. He played at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, but lost in the first round. He also had an early loss at the 2024 US Open.

He recovered his form by winning the China Open, defeating Jannik Sinner. This win helped him reclaim the world No. 2 ranking. He also became the first player in ATP Tour history to win an ATP 500 singles title on every surface. Carlos ended the year ranked No. 3.

2025: French and US Open Titles, Return to No. 1

Alcaraz serving at the 2025 French Open

Carlos began 2025 at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. He won his first title of the season at the Rotterdam Open. He then reached the semifinals of Indian Wells.

Carlos's clay season was very successful. He won the Monte-Carlo Masters, a tournament he had never won before. He then won his first Italian Open title, defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. He became the third man to win every modern big title on clay.

Carlos met Sinner again in the French Open final. Carlos came back from two sets down and saved three championship points to win his fifth major title. This was the longest French Open final ever.

He won his third consecutive title at the Queen's Club Championships. At Wimbledon, he reached his sixth consecutive final but lost to Jannik Sinner. This ended his 24-match winning streak.

Alcaraz in the final of the 2025 US Open

Carlos reached his seventh consecutive final at the Cincinnati Open, winning after Sinner retired. At the US Open, Carlos reached the final without losing a set. He defeated Novak Djokovic in the semifinal for his first win against him on hardcourt. He then beat Jannik Sinner in the final to claim his sixth major title. With this victory, Carlos regained the world No. 1 ranking.

He won his eighth title of the year at the Japan Open. At the ATP Finals, Carlos reached the final but lost to Jannik Sinner. He clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the second time.

2026: Australian Open Champion, Career Grand Slam

Carlos began his 2026 season at the Australian Open. He reached the semifinals without losing a set. In a long semifinal match against Alexander Zverev, he won in five sets. Carlos became the youngest man in the Open Era to reach the final of all four major tournaments. In the final, Carlos defeated Novak Djokovic to win his first Australian Open title. This made him the youngest player in history to complete the career Grand Slam in men's singles.

Exciting Rivalries

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have played each other 16 times on the ATP Tour, with Carlos leading 10–6.

One memorable early match was the 2022 US Open quarterfinal. Carlos won this five-set thriller after saving a match point. In 2024, Carlos won all three of their matches, including a close final at the China Open.

In 2025, Carlos and Sinner met in three major finals in a row. Carlos won their first major final at the French Open. He won despite Sinner having three championship points. Many called it "one of the greatest finals ever played." Sinner then won at Wimbledon, and Carlos won at the US Open. They also played two Masters finals and the 2025 ATP Finals final. Their matches are often described as "potentially era-defining."

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic after the 2023 Wimbledon final

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have played ten times, with the score tied at 5–5. This is remarkable given their 16-year age difference.

Their first match was at the 2022 Madrid Open semifinals. Carlos won, becoming the first man to beat both Nadal and Djokovic on clay in back-to-back matches. They met again in the 2023 French Open semifinals. Djokovic won after Carlos struggled with cramps.

They faced off in the 2023 Wimbledon final. Carlos defeated Djokovic in an epic five-set match. A month later, Djokovic won another thrilling match against Carlos in the 2023 Cincinnati Open final. This match was the longest best-of-three-sets ATP Masters final ever.

In 2024, Carlos beat Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon final. Three weeks later, Djokovic defeated Carlos in the Olympics final in Paris.

Djokovic and Carlos met twice in 2025. Djokovic won their Australian Open quarterfinal. Carlos then won their US Open semifinal, his first win against Djokovic on hardcourt. They have now played at all four major tournaments.

In 2026, Carlos defeated Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open. This win ended Djokovic's perfect record in Australian Open finals.

Playing Style

Carlos Alcaraz is an all-court tennis player. He mostly plays with an aggressive style from the back of the court. His powerful forehand is usually his best shot. He can hit it flat and fast for winners or add a lot of spin. He uses a flatter, two-handed backhand. Because he plays so aggressively, Carlos often hits many winners but also makes some mistakes.

Carlos has a strong first serve, often reaching 115 to 120 mph. He adds topspin to his second serve to make it bounce high. This makes it hard for opponents to return. His serve is sometimes seen as a weaker part of his game because it lacks precise placement. However, he is excellent at returning serves, especially first serves.

Carlos is very good at the net, with great drop volleys and drive volleys. He often uses a disguised drop shot, which is a key part of his game. His powerful groundstrokes push opponents back, making his drop shots very effective. Some experts say his drop shot is "the best in the history of tennis."

Carlos is known for his amazing athleticism and physical abilities. His fast sprints and ability to counterattack are often compared to Rafael Nadal. His movement and court coverage are compared to Novak Djokovic. Like Roger Federer, his excellent touch on the ball is important to his success. Djokovic once said Carlos combines "the best of all three worlds" from his own game, Federer's, and Nadal's.

Carlos has an impressive record of 15 wins and 1 loss in five-set matches. This is one of the highest success rates ever. He has not lost a five-set match since he was 18 years old. He is often praised for his creativity and exciting play on court. He once said he wants to win, but also "to have fun, try different things, make the people enjoy watching tennis."

Coaches and Team

Carlos's childhood coaches were Kiko Navarro and Carlos Santos. In September 2018, at 15, Carlos moved to Villena. He began training at the Ferrero Tennis Academy with Juan Carlos Ferrero as his personal coach. Ferrero won the ATP Coach of the Year Award in 2022 and 2025 for his work with Carlos. In December 2025, Carlos and Ferrero announced they had ended their partnership after seven years.

In December 2024, Samuel López joined Carlos's team as a second coach. He continues to work with Carlos in 2026.

Carlos has kept most of his team since he started on tour. His team includes physical trainer Alberto Lledó, physiotherapist Juanjo Moreno, doctor Juanjo López, and agent Albert Molina. His brother Álvaro is his longtime hitting partner and assistant coach. Carlos also works with sports psychologist Isabel Balaguer.

Off the Court

Endorsements

Carlos is sponsored by Nike for his clothing and shoes. He uses Babolat racquets. In January 2022, Carlos became an ambassador for Rolex. In 2023, he worked with Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton. He is also an ambassador for Brazilian bank Itaú, Spanish company Isdin, Spanish food company ElPozo, and German car maker BMW Spain.

In June 2025, Carlos became an ambassador for the food company Danone. He also became an ambassador for Evian mineral water and YoPRO yogurt, both owned by Danone.

In August 2025, it was estimated that Carlos earned more money from endorsements than any other active tennis player. He was also named the highest-paid active tennis player overall for the second year in a row.

Helping Others

In April 2024, Carlos launched the Carlos Alcaraz Garfia Foundation. Its goal is to help disadvantaged children. The foundation is based in El Palmar, Murcia and works with local schools. After floods in Valencia in 2024, Carlos's foundation provided buses for volunteers. Carlos and Ferrero also held an auction to raise money for those affected. In December 2024, Carlos opened an exhibition for his foundation. It highlighted the importance of equal opportunities for children.

Other Sports and Hobbies

Carlos is a big football fan and supports the Spanish club Real Madrid. He also supports other Spanish athletes, like Formula One driver Fernando Alonso. Carlos enjoys playing golf and chess. In 2023, Chess.com even created a special Carlos Alcaraz bot that users can play against.

Career Statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance Timeline

Current through the 2026 Australian Open.

Grand Slam Tournament Finals

Singles: 8 (7 titles, 1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2022	US Open	Hard	Casper Ruud	6–4, 2–6, 7–6(7–1), 6–3
Win	2023	Wimbledon	Grass	Novak Djokovic	1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4
Win	2024	French Open	Clay	Alexander Zverev	6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2
Win	2024	Wimbledon (2)	Grass	Novak Djokovic	6–2, 6–2, 7–6(7–4)
Win	2025	French Open (2)	Clay	Jannik Sinner	4–6, 6–7(4–7), 6–4, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(10–2)
Loss	2025	Wimbledon	Grass	Jannik Sinner	6–4, 4–6, 4–6, 4–6
Win	2025	US Open (2)	Hard	Jannik Sinner	6–2, 3–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win	2026	Australian Open	Hard	Novak Djokovic	2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5

Year–End Championships Performance Timeline

Year-End Championships Finals

Singles: 1 (1 runner-up)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2025	ATP Finals	Hard (i)	Jannik Sinner	6–7(4–7), 5–7

Summer Olympics

Singles: 1 (silver medal)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2024	Paris Olympics	Clay	Novak Djokovic	6–7(3–7), 6–7(2–7)

Records and Achievements

All-Time Records

Open Era Records

• These records were achieved in the Open Era of tennis and in ATP Masters series since 1990.
• Records in bold mean Carlos is the only player to achieve them.

Awards and Honours

Carlos has received many awards:

Professional Awards

• ATP Newcomer of the Year – 2020
• 2× ATP Player of the Year – 2022, 2025
• ATP Most Improved Player – 2022
• 2× Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award – 2023, 2025
• ATP Hot Shot of the Year – 2025
• ITWA Player Ambassador Award – 2025

Media Awards

• 3× Sports Press Association of the Region of Murcia — Best Male Athlete of the Year – 2021, 2024, 2025
• Spanish Sportsman of the Year – 2022
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year – 2023

Special Awards

• Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia (Medalla d'Or de la Región de Murcia) – 2022
• King Felipe Award (Premio Rey Felipe) – 2024

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Alcaraz para niños

• List of ATP number 1 ranked singles tennis players
• Top ten ranked male tennis players
• List of Grand Slam men's singles champions
• World number 1 ranked male tennis players
• ATP Awards
• Tennis in Spain