Carlos Alcaraz is no longer just following in the footsteps of tennis royalty — he is rewriting the timeline. The Spanish superstar has entered his 60th career week as ATP world number one, reaching the landmark at a younger age than the legendary ‘Big Three’ of men’s tennis.
The milestone arrives on the heels of Alcaraz’s title run at the Qatar Open in Doha, further solidifying his dominance at the top of the rankings.
Dominance at the summit
Alcaraz’s reign has been defined by consistency and big-stage brilliance. The 22-year-old also recently captured the Australian Open title, completing a career Grand Slam in Melbourne.
In doing so, he mirrored the achievements of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic — the trio widely regarded as the greatest era in men’s tennis.
Yet Carlos Alcaraz has not simply matched their accomplishments; he has accelerated past them in terms of timing.
Younger than the greats
At 22, Alcaraz has reached 60 weeks as world number one earlier than any member of the Big Three. Federer and his current rival Jannik Sinner were 23 when they hit the same mark. Nadal achieved it at 24, while Djokovic was 25.
The Spaniard’s pace also eclipses American icons Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors, who were both 23 when they reached 60 weeks at No. 1. Andre Agassi was 29 at the time of his milestone.
Only Lleyton Hewitt achieved the feat at a younger age, doing so at just 21.
A new benchmark for the next generation
Carlos Alcaraz first stunned the sport by becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion of his generation. Now, with 60 weeks atop the ATP rankings before his 23rd birthday, he has once again separated himself from his contemporaries.
The achievement underscores more than dominance — it signals longevity in an era transitioning beyond the Big Three. While comparisons to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are inevitable, Alcaraz is steadily crafting a legacy defined not by imitation, but by acceleration.
At just 22, he is not merely inheriting the throne — he is redefining how quickly it can be claimed.