Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest player to enter the top 10 since Rafael Nadal in 2005

Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive run in 2022, defeating reigning Monte-Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open. With a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over the Greek, Alcaraz is guaranteed to break into the top 10 when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday.

The 18-year-old Spaniard will become the youngest player to crack the top 10 since compatriot Rafael Nadal back in 2005. While the 21-time Grand Slam champion was 18 years and 10 months old at the time, Carlos Alcaraz is a month older at 18 years and 11 months.

Interestingly, Nadal entered the top 10 by winning the Barcelona Open on 25 April, while Alcaraz confirmed his top-10 debut on the same date by reaching the semifinals.

For reference, the teenager is almost an entire year younger than multiple Major winners Novak Djokovic (19 years and nine months) and Andy Murray (19 years and 11 months) when they managed to crack the top 10.

Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas were all over 20 years of age when they accomplished the feat, as was 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer. Richard Gasquet, who made his Grand Slam debut at the age of 15 years and 11 months, was well over 21 by the time he entered the top 10.

Carlos Alcaraz takes on Alex de Minaur in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open

Carlos Alcaraz takes on Alex de Minaur in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open

With the victory against Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz holds a 8-6 win/loss record (57.1% winning percentage) against top-10 players, as well as an unblemished 3-0 lead over the Greek.

The Spaniard will square off against Alex de Minaur in the semifinals of the 2022 Barcelona Open. The Australian pulled off an impressive three-set victory against fourth seed Cameron Norrie in his quarter-final fixture to book a meeting with the Spaniard.

The clash on Saturday will mark their first ever meeting on the ATP tour. While de Minaur has done well so far to reach the last four, clay isn't the World No. 25's favorite surface, making Alcaraz the clear favorite to progress to the next stage.

Assuming the Spaniard subdues de Minaur, he will be pitted against either sixth seed Diego Schwartzman or eighth seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the final. With one Masters 1000 title (Miami Masters) and one ATP 500 title (Rio Open) under his belt already, the teenager will be gunning for his third trophy of the season.