'I have learned a lot recently, and I'm hungry for more,' said Carlos Alcaraz

The 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has been among the youngster to watch this year, scoring six ATP victories and moving closer to a place in the top-100.

A super talented Spaniard claimed the first Futures title in July 2019 at 16 and advanced into the first Challenger quarter-final, becoming the leader of the 2003 generation. At the beginning of 2020, the youngster won back-to-back Futures crowns and earned the first ATP win at the ATP 500 event in Rio to show his skills and abilities.

When the season restarted in August, Carlos won three Challenger titles at 17, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve that in a single season and cracking the top-150. Eager for more in 2021, the Spaniard qualified for the Australian Open and became the first player with a Major victory since Thanasi Kokkinakis in 2014!

Following early losses in Acapulco and Miami, Carlos went home and showed his true colors on beloved clay in Marbella, reaching the semi-final as the youngest player on the ATP level since Alexander Zverev in Hamburg 2014 and the fifth-youngest since 2000. Receiving a wild card, Carlos took down Nikola Milojevic, Feliciano Lopez and Casper Ruud en route to the last four, hoping to become the youngest ATP finalist since his idol Rafael Nadal in Auckland 2004!

That didn't happen, though, but Carlos will have another chance in Barcelona this week, securing a wild card for one of his favorite tournaments and facing Frances Tiafoe in the opening round.

"I'm motivated to play well at the ATP 500 Barcelona event and the Masters 1000 in Madrid. It's a fantastic chance for me to play at home and against excellent rivals. I'm getting a lot of experience in the last couple of months, and I'm looking forward to more. I'm thrilled and hungry at the same time. I have learned a lot from the last couple of tournaments, playing well against more experienced and exciting rivals.

The most important thing that I have learned is how to deal with the pressure in challenging moments and remain aggressive. I'm learning to play the entire match at the same pace, including those crucial points that can decide a winner. I'm happy with my progress so far," Carlos Alcaraz said.