Stat of the Year, No. 4: Carlos Alcaraz becomes first teenager ever to defeat Nadal and Djokovic at the same tournament

The Spaniard turned 19 on a Thursday, beat a GOAT on Friday, and then another GOAT on Saturday.

Published Nov 29, 2022

Highlight; C. Alcaraz Def N. Djokovic; Madrid Sf

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This week we’re counting down the top five stats of the season.

We began yesterday with Ashleigh Barty ending the longest drought for a home champion at a major in the Open Era, when she became the first Australian to win the Australian Open in 44 years.

Today, it’s a future No. 1 taking on—and taking out—two GOATs.

Alcaraz becomes first teenager ever to defeat Nadal and Djokovic at the same tournament

Everyone knew Carlos Alcaraz was one of the most dangerous players in the draw in Madrid, but talk about running the gauntlet.

After toughing out a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-3 victory over Cam Norrie in the third round on Thursday, which was actually his 19th birthday, the Spaniard then took out two of the GOATs of the sport in back-to-back days on Friday and Saturday, first defeating Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, then winning a three-hour, 35-minute epic against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5).

By doing that, Alcaraz not only became the 12th player ever to beat Nadal and Djokovic at the same tournament, but also the fifth player ever to beat them on consecutive days at the same event.

And he's the youngest by far for both of those achievements.

PLAYERS TO BEAT NADAL AND DJOKOVIC AT THE SAME EVENT (in order of age):

19-year-old Alcaraz at 2022 Madrid [consecutive days]
24-year-old Medvedev at 2020 ATP Finals
25-year-old Soderling at 2009 ATP Finals
25-year-old Roddick at 2008 Dubai [consecutive days]
25-year-old Ferrer at 2007 ATP Finals
25-year-old Nalbandian at 2007 Madrid [consecutive days]
27-year-old Thiem at 2020 ATP Finals
27-year-old Del Potro at 2016 Rio Olympics
28-year-old Davydenko at 2009 Shanghai [consecutive days]
28-year-old Wawrinka at 2014 Australian Open
29-year-old Federer at 2010 ATP Finals [consecutive days]
31-year-old Ljubicic at 2010 Indian Wells

And it didn’t even end there—the next day, Alcaraz defeated No. 3-ranked Alexander Zverev in the final, 6-3, 6-1, in 62 minutes.

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