Carlos Alcaraz, the current World No. 1, just joined a very exclusive club in men’s tennis. He now stands alongside legends like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray. This young Spanish star has reached at least ten tournament finals in a single year, a feat only those four “Big Four” members managed this century. Federer achieved it seven times, Djokovic five, Nadal five, and Murray once. For Alcaraz, it’s a huge stamp of approval on his incredible talent.
This milestone arrived as Alcaraz booked his spot in the ATP 500 Tokyo final in Japan. It’s his first time ever playing in the country, and he certainly made an impression. This marks his tenth final of the year, and astonishingly, his ninth in a row. Talk about consistency.
His current streak began after a second-round loss at the ATP Masters 1000 Miami back in March. Since then, Alcaraz has been on an absolute tear, reaching the final of every single tournament he’s entered. He grabbed titles in Monte-Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s Club, Cincinnati, and the US Open. He also made it to the final in Barcelona and Wimbledon, and now, Tokyo. It’s a run that showcases his dominance on different surfaces and against top-tier competition.
To reach the Tokyo final, the 22-year-old Alcaraz faced off against Norway’s Casper Ruud, who ranks 12th in the ATP. This match was a repeat of their thrilling 2022 US Open final. Ruud pushed Alcaraz hard, taking the first set. But Alcaraz dug deep, eventually winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The match lasted over two hours. He really had to pull out all the stops to avoid losing before a final, something he hadn’t done in nearly seven months. His victory keeps his incredible streak alive and adds another memorable chapter to his young career.
