Carlos Alcaraz broke into the top 10 of the ATP rankings this week, following his title run at the 2022 Barcelona Open. The teenager defeated Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets in the final to notch up his third title of the year and his fourth overall.By doing so, the 18-year-old became the youngest player to crack the top 10 since compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2005. The Mallorcan was only a month younger than Alcaraz at the time of his achievement -- 18 years and 10 months. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, were more than 19 years of age by the time they secured single-digit rankings.Chris Goldsmith@TheTennisTalker18 year old Carlos Alcaraz 9th in ATP Rankings 3rd in ATP Race for 2022 4 Career titles 2022 Miami Masters 10002022 ATP Barcelona 5002022 ATP Rio Open 5002021 ATP Croatian Open 25011318 year old Carlos Alcaraz 🇪🇸 9th in ATP Rankings 3rd in ATP Race for 2022 4 Career titles 2022 Miami Masters 10002022 ATP Barcelona 5002022 ATP Rio Open 5002021 ATP Croatian Open 250 https://t.co/srL7F9sdH2Carlos Alcaraz's 19th birthday is coming up in a few days (May 5), meaning he will be ranked World No. 9 when he celebrates the occasion in the midst of the Madrid Masters. This begs the question, where were the Big 3 ranked when they were 19?Oleg S.@AnnaK_4everAlcaraz will be ranked 9th on his 19th birthday.Not to imply anything — just out of curiosity — where the last 20 ATP No. 1 players were ranked on their 19th birthday (also on 20th and 21st):32149Alcaraz will be ranked 9th on his 19th birthday.Not to imply anything — just out of curiosity — where the last 20 ATP No. 1 players were ranked on their 19th birthday (also on 20th and 21st): https://t.co/iOByjAysjCRafael Nadal is the only member of the Big 3 who had a better ranking than Carlos Alcaraz when he turned 19Rafael Nadal was ranked World No. 5 on his 19th birthday, 4 spots better than Carlos AlcarazRafael Nadal was ranked No. 5 on his 19th birthday (3 June 2005), mainly thanks to his title runs at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open and Rome Masters in the lead up to Roland Garros that year. Interestingly, he broke into the top 10 on the same day as Carlos Alcaraz, 17 years earlier.ATP Media Info@ATPMediaInfo24 April 2022: @AlcarazCarlos03 defeats countryman @PabloCarreno91 for @BCNOpenBS title24 April 2005: @RafaelNadal defeats countryman @JuankiFerri (Alcaraz' coach) for #BCNOpenBS title25 April 2022: Alcaraz, 18, breaks into Top 1025 April 2005: Nadal, 18, breaks into Top 10140030124 April 2022: @AlcarazCarlos03 defeats countryman @PabloCarreno91 for @BCNOpenBS title24 April 2005: @RafaelNadal defeats countryman @JuankiFerri (Alcaraz' coach) for #BCNOpenBS title25 April 2022: Alcaraz, 18, breaks into Top 1025 April 2005: Nadal, 18, breaks into Top 10On his 19th birthday, Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the semifinals of the French Open. Two days later, he bested Mariano Puerta in the final to bring up his first Grand Slam title.A year later, on his 20th birthday, Nadal rose to World No. 2, a position he held on to until his 21st birthday. Finally, in 2008 at the age of 22 years and two months, he ascended to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time.Roger Federer had not won a single ATP tour title before his 19th birthdayRoger Federer was ranked World No. 39 on his 19th birthday, 30 spots lower than Carlos AlcarazRoger Federer was ranked World No. 39 on his 19th birthday (8 August 2000), and had reached the third round of the Australian Open and fourth round of Roland Garros that year.Unlike Carlos Alcaraz, the Swiss was yet to win an ATP tour title at the time. The closest he had come was at the 2000 Marseille Open, losing to Marc Rosset in the final. The 20-time Grand Slam champion had to wait three more years to win his first Grand Slam title -- the 2003 Wimbledon Championships.José Morgado@josemorgadoRoger Federer played his first ATP final 20 years ago, in Marseille (13/02/2000), losing to Rosset.Very impressive run to the final for the 18yo WC:R1: DupuisR2: T. JohanssonQF: LjubicicSF: SantoroFederer is the only player from that draw still active, obviously.555100Roger Federer played his first ATP final 20 years ago, in Marseille (13/02/2000), losing to Rosset.Very impressive run to the final for the 18yo WC:R1: DupuisR2: T. JohanssonQF: LjubicicSF: SantoroFederer is the only player from that draw still active, obviously. https://t.co/ke7vPtOZkHThe former World No. 1 was ranked No. 14 on his 20th birthday as well as his 21st birthday. In 2004, at the age of 22 years and five months, Federer finally ascended to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time ever.Novak Djokovic was ranked outside the top 50 on his 19th bithdayNovak Djokovic was ranked World No. 63 on his 19th birthday, 54 spots lower than Carlos AlcarazNovak Djokovic was ranked World No. 63 on his 19th birthday (22 May 2006), but had already played five Grand Slams with third-round finishes at the 2005 Wimbledon and US Open.Following a quarter-final run at the 2006 French Open, the Serb broke into the top 50. The 20-time Grand Slam champion won his first ATP title that year, beating Nicolas Massu in the final of the Dutch Open.Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸@christophclareyBack in the day2008 Australian OpenDjokovic's first Grand Slam singles title📸Peter Parks42632Back in the day2008 Australian OpenDjokovic's first Grand Slam singles title📸Peter Parks https://t.co/vZt2PNeYkaThe Serb broke into the top-10 shortly before his 20th birthday, rising to World No. 6 on 22 May 2007. On his 21st birthday, Djokovic was ranked World No. 3 and had already won his first Grand Slam at the 2008 Australian Open. Finally, in 2011 at the age of 24 years and one month, he ascended to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time ever.Carlos Alcaraz still has a long way to go before he can be spoken of in the same breath as the Big 3, but he is certainly on the right track.