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Carlos Alcaraz continues to break new ground in what has been a breakthrough ATP campaign for the Spanish teenager.
On Saturday, the 19-year-old prevailed over Giulio Zeppieri to reach back-to-back Umag finals, setting up a blockbuster title clash with Jannik Sinner. The win meant Alcaraz will now break into the top four of the ATP singles on Monday.
The teenager could have achieved that six days ago had he beaten Lorenzo Musetti in the Hamburg final last Sunday. However, just a week later, the World No. 5 is now poised to enter the top four as he eyes a tour-leading fifth title of the year.
Alcaraz is one of the youngest players to reach the top four of the ATP rankings. On that note, here's a look at the six youngest singles players to reach the ATP top four since the rankings came into being almost five decades ago:
#6 Carlos Alcaraz (2022) - 19 years, 2 months
Carlos Alcaraz has been on a roll this year, winning 42 of his 48 singles matches and bagging four titles. That includes triumphs in Miami and Madrid, making the Spaniard the youngest two-time Masters 1000 champion in nearly two decades.
His win over Zeppieri in Umag on Saturday confirmed his debut in the ATP top four next week. Alcaraz (75-24) will now look to mark the occasion - his 100th singles match - with a victory as he seeks the first successful title defense of his young career.
It was at Umag last year that the then 18-year-old won the first of his five ATP singles titles. A year later, he'll vie to win his sixth against Jannik Sinner.
#5 Mats Wilander (1983) - 19 years, 1 month
Mats Wilander became the youngest male player in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title when he triumphed at 1982 Roland Garros on his tournament debut.
A year later, he lost to Yannick Noah in the final, but enjoyed what was one of the best years by a teenager in ATP history. The Swede went 83-11 on the year, winning nine titles, including the Australian Open.
A week after winning his seventh title of the year in Barcelona, Wilander broke into the top four of the rankings. The future World No. 1 would end the year in the top four, with two more titles - Stockholm and the Australian Open - becoming the youngest winner Down Under.
#4 Rafael Nadal (2005) - 19 years, 3 days
Rafael Nadal is widely regarded as one of the finest players to have graced the sport.
The 22-time Major winner announced his arrival on the big stage in 2005. The then 19-year-old went 79-10 on the year, producing the best season by a teenager in ATP history, winning 11 titles.
At Roland Garros that year, the legendary left-hander beat Mariano Puerta in the final to become the first debutant since Wilander to win the claycourt Major. Following the triumph, Nadal broke into the top three of the ATP rankings.
Suffice to say, it wasn't going to be his only Roland Garros success. Earlier this year, the 36-year-old won a record-extending 14th title on the Parisian terre battue.
#3 Boris Becker (1986) - 18 years, 4 months
Boris Becker announced his arrival on the big stage when the then 17-year-old romped to the Wimbledon title in 1985.
A year later, the German teenager showed he was no flash in the pan, enjoying a 69-13 year, winning six titles. That included a successful title defense at Wimbledon - where he beat Ivan Lendl in the final.
Becker won his first title of the year in Chicago. Weeks later, he lost to Anders Jarryd in the final of the WCT Finals in Dallas. Nevertheless, he broke into the top four of the ATP rankings, becoming only the third 18-year-old to do so.
#2 Bjorn Borg (1974) - 18 years, 3 months, 24 days
Bjorn Borg is widely regarded as one of the best players in tennis history. The Swede enjoyed a banner year in 1974. The then 18-year-old won nearly 100 matches that year, going 94-24, winning eight titles. That included his first of six Roland Garros titles.
A few days after winning his sixth title of the year in Bastad, Borg broke into the top four of the ATP rankings. He lost in the Madrid final to Ilie Nastase but ended the year with one more title - Adelaide.
The future World No. 1 would go on to win the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double in three successive years (1978-80), which remains an unmatched feat.
#1 Andre Agassi (1988) - 18 years, 3 months, 2 days
Andre Agassi is one of only five male players in the Open Era to have won the career Grand Slam.
A year after winning his first of 60 ATP singles titles at Itaparica (Brazil) in 1987, the then 18-year-old American would enjoy a memorable campaign. Agassi went 63-11 in 1988, winning six titles.
After winning his fifth title of the year at Stratton Mountain, the American became the youngest player to break into the top four of the singles rankings.
Although Agassi didn't win a Major that year - reaching the semifinals at Roland Garros and the US Open - he ended the season with a triumph at Livingston.
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