Alcaraz turns 23 years old as one of the best tennis players in history at his age

Pedro de Pablos | 5 May 2026 | 14.33

Alcaraz turns 23 as one of the best tennis players in history at his age

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Carlos Alcaraz turns 23 today, Tuesday, May 5. Despite going through one of the toughest moments of his career due to a wrist injury, the Spanish tennis player has many reasons to smile, as he is one of the best tennis players in history at his age and is on his way to leaving a unique and irreplaceable legacy (if that is even possible).

Although he has a whole career ahead of him, Alcaraz has already achieved accomplishments that few have reached. Just at the beginning of 2026, he won the Australian Open to become the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam, adding his seventh major title to his record. Double Wimbledon champion, double US Open champion, and double Roland Garros champion... Impressive numbers that put him on par with legends like Rafael Nadal and Björn Borg.

In fact, at just 18 years old, the Spanish player had already won the Miami Masters 1000, and a few weeks later, the Madrid Masters. As if that wasn't enough, at 19 years, 4 months, and 6 days, he became the youngest number 1 in history after winning his first Grand Slam: the 2022 US Open. Since then, Carlos' career has been on a constant rise, becoming a legend of the racquet sport at a young age.

Carlos Alcaraz, specialist in silencing his critics

At times, the press and haters have been unfair to him, when the truth is that Alcaraz has always succeeded in his own way. Criticism for partying in Ibiza or even for sometimes despising tennis, as if he were not a flesh and blood person, with his lows and personal issues. However, with a level of maturity not typical for someone his age, Alcaraz has always responded.

Even when he hit rock bottom after losing in his Miami debut in 2025 against David Goffin. No one understood why he took so many days off, but his response was swift. He won Monte Carlo, Rome, and Roland Garros, and reached the final in Barcelona on the clay court swing. Then, on the grass season, he won Queen's and Wimbledon, and on the hard court return, he triumphed in Cincinnati and the US Open with overwhelming dominance. He had done it again; he was once again the king of the circuit.

Only Nadal and Borg can sit at his table at 23

Adding to all this, his silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics at just 21 years old, his 26 ATP titles, 8 Masters 1000, a Laureus Award... he is an irreplaceable player. In fact, at his age, only Rafael Nadal (22) and Björn Borg (17) had won more major titles than him (15). Not even Federer (8), Djokovic (7), or Sampras (11) come close. Additionally, only Borg had 7 Grand Slam titles at his age, so who knows if in the future, he might join the 'Big Three' in that regard.

Therefore, despite the difficult times ahead, today is a day for celebration. Carlos' 23rd birthday allows us to reflect on everything he has achieved so far and to envision all that he is yet to accomplish. At this moment, patience is required as we wait for his wrist to fully heal, but there is no doubt that he will thrill us with great victories in the near future, as he has always done. Congratulations, legend.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz cumple 23 años como uno de los mejores tenistas de la historia a su edad