Home » Carlos Alcaraz overtakes Rafael Nadal in the ATP Race.

For eight months, Rafael Nadal had held the top spot in the ATP Race. Due to a foot ailment, Rafa missed the second part of the previous season. He will make a stronger comeback at the start of 2022. In the Australian Open final, Rafael Nadal overcame Daniil Medvedev after falling behind 6-2, 7-6, 3-2, and 40-0 to win in five sets after five hours and 24 minutes.

As a result, the Spaniard won the Australian Open for the first time in 13 years and rose to the top of the ATP Race. After defeating Medvedev and Cameron Norrie in the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Rafa continued his unblemished 2022 and entered Indian Wells as the favourite.

Nadal missed Barcelona and Monte Carlo because of a damaged rib, which limited his ability to compete against Taylor Fritz in the title match. He also lost for the first time this year. The Spaniard struggled with a foot ailment upon his return, which cast doubt over his preparation for Roland Garros. He did not play his best tennis in Madrid or Rome.

Nadal was a tough opponent in Paris, getting shots before every match and defeating seven opponents to win the 22nd Major championship! Rafa won his 14th Roland Garros title by defeating Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Casper Ruud. This solidified his lead in the ATP Race and made him the year’s top player.

1 preferred. Having been denied points for the Wimbledon semifinal, Nadal left London with an abdominal strain that put his summer hard-court swing in jeopardy. Rafa missed Montreal and lost to Borna Coric right away in Cincinnati.

The Spaniard lost to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round without any form or victories, giving up the potential to overtake the current No. 1 position at the age of 36. In contrast, the 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz was prepared to take on his renowned compatriot after achieving unbelievable performances that had not been witnessed at that age since Rafa!

Rafael Nadal is second in the ATP Race to Carlos Alcaraz.

After the US Open, Carlos took advantage of his opportunity to overtake Rafa as the leader of the ATP Race, gaining 650 points on the 22-time Major champion to become the year’s top player.

1 preferred! Before winning the ATP 500 tournament in Rio de Janeiro, the young pro lost to Matteo Berrettini in a close match in the Australian Open. Rafa defeated Carlos in a thrilling semi-final match in Indian Wells, but Carlos advanced two steps further to become the third-youngest Masters 1000 champion there!

In order to earn 500 points for his total and a spot in the top 10, the young Spaniard grabbed the trophy in Barcelona at the end of April. Alcaraz didn’t stop there; he went on to overcome Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev his route to winning his second Masters 1000 championship in as many weeks in Madrid.

Carlos advanced to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, becoming him a challenger for the ATP Race lead and earning additional points. Alcaraz, who entered the New York tournament as one of the favourites, lost two ATP finals on clay, in Hamburg and Umag. Carlos had the top spot in the world.

4 before the US Open and was in the running to become the ATP’s youngest world number one. Nadal lost in the fourth round, as we already mentioned, which made it easy for Alcaraz and Casper Ruud to surpass him. A fight for the first Major championship and the ATP throne took place in the US Open final between Alcaraz and Ruud.

In three hours and 20 minutes, Carlos won 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 for a career-best performance and a spot in history. Alcaraz became the first teenager to hold the ATP title when he was 19 years and 4 months old. He is also in the driver’s seat to win the year’s top spot, establishing a sizable advantage over the competition and aiming to solidify it in Astana, Basel, Paris, and Turin.