17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz earns age milestones in Marbella

World no. 133 Carlos Alcaraz has been one of the youngsters to watch in the last couple of seasons, storming through the ATP rankings and gathering experience on the big scene.

In his first professional tournament, Carlos reached the Futures quarter-final at 14 in 2018 and won the first title in July 2091, followed by his first Challenger quarter-final, all at 15. Alcaraz kicked off the previous season with back-to-back Futures titles and the first ATP victory in Rio de Janeiro to make a name for himself. After the season's restart, Carlos claimed no less than three Challenger titles at 17, cracking the top-150 and hoping for more in 2021.

The youngster kicked off the season in strong way, becoming the first player of his generation who qualified for a Major in Melbourne and earning one victory, as the youngest winner of a Major match since 2014! After early losses in Acapulco and Miami, Carlos returned home and delivered impressive tennis on his beloved clay in Marbella to reach the semis.

Thus, a teenager became the youngest ATP semi-finalist since Alexander Zverev in Hamburg 2014, and the fifth-youngest since 2000 after Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Marin Cilic and Alexander Zverev.

Receiving the Marbella wild card, Carlos took down Nikola Milojevic, Feliciano Lopez and Casper Ruud en route to the last four, trying to become the youngest ATP finalist since Rafael Nadal in Auckland 2004! Still, it wasn't to be for the youngster, as he lost a tight semi-final clash to Jaume Munar 7-6, 6-4 in just under two hours.

With one more ATP tournament to play before turning 18 (Barcelona), Carlos has already scored seven triumphs in the ATP tournaments before the 18th birthday, one more than Roger Federer and six ahead of Novak Djokovic, who had only one.