Alcaraz youngest No 1
Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz has removed Lleyton Hewitt from a page in the tennis record books after becoming the youngest year-end No 1 in the nearly 50-year history of the ATP Tour. The 19-year-old achieved that feat this week when second-ranked countryman and alltime great Rafael Nadal was eliminated from the ATP Finals in Turin following two consecutive straight-set losses. Alcaraz began 2022 ranked No 32 but stormed into the top 10 thanks to his surprise run to the Miami Open title in early April and then a strong clay-court season that included titles in Barcelona and Madrid. He arrived in New York in August for the US Open ranked fourth in the world; two weeks later he walked away with the trophy and the No 1 ranking. By winning his maiden grand slam title at the age of 19 years, four months and six days, he became the youngest world No 1 since rankings began in 1973 and the youngest US Open champion since American legend Pete Sampras in 1990.