Andy Roddick has praised Carlos Alcaraz’s breakthrough season after the Spaniard officially became the youngest player in history to seal the ATP year-end No.1 position on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old achieved the latest milestone in his blossoming career after his only challenger for the top spot, Rafael Nadal, lost his first two matches at the ATP Finals. Alcaraz is unable to play at the tournament in Turin due to an abdominal injury which has brought a premature end to his season. This time 12 months ago the youngster had a year-end ranking of 32 and his rise to the top within this period is the biggest jump ever seen on the men’s Tour since records began.
Alcaraz has also become the first player outside the Big Four to clinch the year-end No.1 ranking since Roddick in 2003 who has been extremely impressed with the performance of the Spaniard.
“This kid’s rise has been meteoric and he obviously passes the eye test for somebody who is going to win majors,” Roddick told The Tennis Channel.
In 2022 Alcaraz won his maiden Grand Slam title, claimed two Masters 1000 trophies and won two ATP 500 events. Overall, he has won 57 out of 70 matches played. He became No.1 just 140 days after making his top-10 debut.
However, in Roddick’s view, the debate over who should be named the best player in the world is subjective with the American siding with Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is currently ranked eighth in the world but has missed two Grand Slam events, as well as a series of tournaments in North America due to his vaccination status. At the time those countries required all visitors to be jabbed against COVID-19 which Djokovic isn’t.
“To get to number one that quickly is a different story. As we look forward to next year, I think you will be hard-pressed to find somebody who doesn’t think Novak Djokovic is the best player in the world,” he commented.
“But the number one ranking is Carlos Alcaraz’s. It’s well deserved. It was unbelievable to watch this year. I wish he was in Turin (at the ATP Finals) this week mixing it up with these phenomenal players but we want health. He has a long career ahead of him. What a gift to the game Alcaraz has been.”
Alcaraz’s rise has disturbed the recent dominance of the Big Four who are all aged 35 or over. Roger Federer has retired and Andy Murray is currently ranked outside the top 40. Although Djokovic and Rafael Nadal remain formidable forces in the sport. Between the quartet, they have won 36 out of the last 43 Grand Slam tournaments played.
“It just goes to show those guys are selfish, very very selfish… keeping titles from us mortals,” Roddick said. “I don’t know if we are ever going to see consistency like we’ve seen from the Big 4 over the last 20 years. They completely revolutionized the game, it’s just absurd!”
“It took an all-world talent like Carlos Alcaraz who is already a complete player at 19 years old now (to put an end to the domination of the Big 4). What a talent Alcaraz is,” he added.
Alcaraz will be in Turin on Wednesday to attend a special presentation to mark him becoming the year-end No.1. He is the 18th player on the ATP Tour to do so.