He has done it again, ladies and gentlemen, the best tennis player on the planet right now has added one more Grand Slam to his trophy case. Carlos Alcaraz, the 22 year old Spanish wonderkid, has been tearing it up for years now. On Sunday, September 7, he won his second US Open and sixth Grand Slam overall. The win was more than enough to get him back to the No. 1 rank on the ATP tour. It is his fifth stint as the World No. 1 and the 37th week overall at the top. He is sitting comfortably at 11,540 points, ahead of Jannik Sinner with 10,780. He has enough of a cushion to make him the year end leader. Below them, it is a steep drop, a valley of players who barely have half of their point totals.

One question remains with Alcaraz in the 2020s and beyond: Are we witnessing a new era in tennis that the Spanish superstar is defining? Is the era of Djokovic over? The Big 3 has been finished for a few years now, and it seems that Novak’s quest for the 25th Grand Slam will fall flat, considering the new kid (or two?) on the block. Alcaraz, together with Sinner, is dominating, and nobody comes even close to them. So, we already are in the next era, right? If you are a fan of tennis, you were probably a bit sceptical in the last few years, wondering if there would ever be a rivalry the likes of which Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal have had for over a decade and a half. Well, here we are, and the answer is yes. Except, there is no Big 3, but a new Big 2. Expert US Open picks and predictions suggested Sinner as the favorite, but it was Carlos who took the title.

It always seems so easy when the Spanish phenom takes the court, and it did so once again in the last two weeks. Arthur Ash stadium was packed each time he played, and the big final justified all expectations. But it was the manner in which he played that showcased his skill and the era of tennis we are living in. In the first round, he beat the local Reilly Opelka in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. In the second round, it was the Italian Mattia Bellucci, again in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3, a very dominant showing. The third round saw him take down another Italian, the 32nd seeded Luciano Darderi, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Another 3-0 victory. In the fourth round, it was the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, and it was again without a lost set. 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, and 6-4.

Then in the quarter final, the Czech Jiri Lehecka was up. The No. 20 seed tried to put up a fight, but it was to no avail as it was another straight set victory, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. In the semifinal, it was the duel everyone awaited, against none other than Novak Djokovic. Nole fared no better than the rest, as Carlos took down the No. 7 seed GOAT from Serbia 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. Then in the final, the No. 1 and 2 racquets clashed. Carlos won it 3-1, the only set he dropped during the tournament, for the final score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. Absolute dominance overall, with a total of 21-1 in sets, with only two tiebreaks. This is how dominance works in tennis: absolute and merciless brilliance, a show of being a whole class above. Those who pick Alcaraz when they bet on the US Open will always be at an advantage.

It truly does seem that the Spaniard wonderkid’s career will be marked with a legendary rivalry with the Italian superstar whom he has just beaten. After the lengthy era of the Big 3 of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal, many believed that tennis would go downhill. Because who in their right mind would believe that there would ever be a rivalry like that again? After Roger and Rafa started slowing down and eventually retired, Djokovic continued dominating, caught up with their title totals, and then overtook them. Now, he is the sole record holder across the board, having more of the important wins, records, and achievements than both of his rivals. And he is still playing. One of Novak’s greatest accomplishments is also bridging the gap between his generation and the one of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

The Spanish and Italian aces are 22 and 24 years old, respectively, while Novak is 38. However, what he did before the two started their dominance was take care of the players older than the pair, but still way younger than him. Some of the best current players include Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz,  Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medveed, and a few others. Most of them are older than Alcaraz and Sinner, and yet they never got their fair share of the spotlight. We went from the Big 3 to only Djokovic and then straight to Carlos and Jannik. The pair have won the last 8 Grand Slams between them, and 10 out of the last 13. The other three were Novak’s, and they could be his last. It is the era of the new Big 2, and nobody else is close. While Alcaraz is better in more categories, they are redefining tennis together, and their era has already started. And through it all, Stake.com will be there for your wagering.

The most direct comparison can be made in the Grand Slam titles. At the age of 22 years, 4 months, and 2 days, Alcaraz has 6 Grand Slams. At his age, Nadal had won 5, while both Federer and Djokovic had only won 1. This confirms that he is on track with Nadal’s career, where he dominated like nobody else early in his career. However, Rafa slowed down gradually, some claiming faster than he should have. He went too hard early on and spent his knees around his prime. He would have probably won more titles had he not relied on his brute physical strength, quickness, and stamina, and taken better care of his body.

Will Alcaraz burn out too quickly? He has a much better chance to win titles considering the much weaker era, where it is him and Sinner every time around. The rest are simply not capable of beating them, unlike what Djoker, Fedex, and Rafa had to go through. Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Roddick, Nick Kyrgios… Overall, they were much better than Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev. It seems that a whole generation was skipped, cleared by Djokovic before the arrival of Alcaraz and Sinner. It remains to be seen, but he already has a better start than the three best players in history. A good indicator is the title tally at 25 years old. Nadal had 46 titles, Federer had 45, and Djokovic had 34.

With 17 titles at 250, 500, and 1000 tournaments and 6 Grand Slams, Alcaraz has 23 career titles overall so far in his career. It is an amazing tally for a player who is only 22 years old. He does, however, have titles that have eluded him already. For example, he only made it to the semi finals of the Tour Finals once, in 2023. He does not have an Olympic gold medal yet, either, losing in 2024 in Tokyo to Djokovic. However, he has plenty of time in his career to capture multiple in each of those. Also, he has not had any success with his national team in Davis Cup. To compare this with his biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, the Italian has won the 2023 and 2024 Davis Cups and the 2024 Tour Finals.

Who is Carlos Alcaraz? Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player who rose to international fame for his explosive playing style, athleticism, and maturity on the court. Born on May 5, 2003, he became one of the youngest men ever to win a Grand Slam and reach World No. 1 in ATP rankings.

How many Grand Slam titles has Carlos Alcaraz won? As of 2025, Alcaraz has won six Grand Slam titles. He won two US Open titles (2022, 2025), two Wimbledon titles (2023, 2024), and two French Open titles (2024, 2025) in a span of 3 years. He never made it to the semi finals of the Australian Open, with his highest result being two quarterfinals (2024, 2025).

How old was Carlos Alcaraz when he became World No. 1? He became the youngest World No. 1 in ATP history at just 19 years old, after winning the 2022 US Open.

What makes Carlos Alcaraz’s playing style so exciting? Alcaraz is known for combining raw power, lightning speed, and creative shot making. He mastered a range of offensive tools and has an arsenal that includes superb drop shots, net play, and relentless baseline aggression. Fans often compare him to a mix of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.

Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s coach? His longtime coach is Juan Carlos Ferrero, another Spanish great, former World No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion. Their partnership started in 2019 and has been key to Alcaraz’s rapid rise and continuous dominance.

Has Carlos Alcaraz beaten the Big 3? Alcaraz has defeated Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, but he never got to play Roger Federer, as he had already retired. Against Nadal, he has a negative 1-2 record. Against Djokovic, Alcaraz has a negative 4-5 record. His victory over Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final was a career defining moment, which he repeated in 2024.

Does Carlos Alcaraz have a nickname? Fans and media sometimes call him "Carlitos" or "the Next Rafa", though he is carving out a legacy that is uniquely his own.

What is Carlos Alcaraz like off the court? He is known for his humble personality, big smile, and positive attitude. Off the court, he enjoys golf, video games, and spending time with friends and family. Unlike many young stars in sports, he is easy to root for and get behind since he is not arrogant or self centered.