Carlos Alcaraz has collected a handful of ATP matches before turning 21 and a half! The incredible Spaniard has been a trailblazer for his 2003 generation and those born after, raising the bar high and accomplishing many things his coevals can only dream about. Alcaraz has played only four matches against the rivals born after him, calling it uncharted territory. Juncheng Shang, Mark Lajal and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard are the only rivals who battled against Carlos while being younger than him this year, and they have yet to topple the four-time Major winner. The Spaniard played the first encounter against the rival born after him in the third round of the Australian Open, facing the Chinese and leading 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 before a teenager retired due to pain in his right leg. Shang made a name for himself after passing two rounds on a notable scene. However, he always struggled against Alcaraz, asking for a medical timeout and ending his misery in the second game of the third set.
Carlos Alcaraz & Juncheng Shang, Shanghai 2024© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard dropped five points in his games, feeling no pressure and mounting it on the other side. He had the upper hand on the return as well, turning 58% of the points into six breaks from 12 opportunities for complete control. Carlos had to work much harder in his second encounter against the younger opponent while facing Mark Lajal at Wimbledon. The Estonian qualified for the main draw at Majors for the first time and challenged the Roland Garros winner in a 7-6, 7-5, 6-2 loss in two hours and 23 minutes. Mark attacked in the opening two sets, building the advantage in both but failing to bring it home and make the result more interesting. The Spaniard played well behind the first serve and got broken two times in the initial stages of the opening two sets. He pulled those breaks straight away and stole 42% of the return points, delivering five breaks from ten chances and sailing over the top with a strong performance in the third set.
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai 2024© Stream screenshot
Carlos Alcaraz is 4-0 against the rivals younger than him.
Alcaraz landed 44 winners and 28 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and outplaying his opponent in the pivotal moments. They traded breaks in the middle of the opening set, and the better-ranked player clinched the tie break 7-3 for an early advantage. Mark broke at the beginning of the second set and lost the lead in the next one. Carlos served well in the remaining games and stole the opponent’s serve in the 11th game, building two sets to love advantage and moving closer to the finish line. The Spaniard grabbed two breaks in the third set and moved over the top in style. Three months later, Alcaraz kicked off the title chase in Beijing with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over the young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in an hour and 21 minutes. The better-ranked player showed clutch in the pivotal moments, saving all three break points and delivering two breaks from as many opportunities in the early phase of both sets. Giovanni served at 44% and struggled behind the second serve.
Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing Open 2024© Stream screenshot
He missed a chance to extend the opening set and stood powerless on the return in set number two. The Spaniard faced Juncheng Shang for the second time this season in the second round of the Shanghai Masters and delivered a rock-solid 6-2, 6-2 win in 76 minutes. The more experienced player stood strong on serve and return, keeping the pressure on the other side and moving over the top without losing too much energy following the Beijing final marathon. The rivals could not find the first serve, which represented no issue for world no. 2. Carlos lost 13 points in eight service games and erased the only break point he faced, challenging a teenager to repeat that numbers in front of the home fans.
Carlos Alcaraz, Beijing Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Like in Melbourne, Juncheng stood miles below the rival’s pace, dropping over half of the points in his games and getting broken four times from seven chances offered to the four-time Major winner. Alcaraz fired up his forehand and took charge from the baseline, hitting 19 winners and 13 unforced errors and reducing Shang to eight winners in a one-sided encounter. Carlos outplayed Juncheng in every department, dominating the mid-range exchanges and moving into the next round in style. The players born after Alcaraz will have to raise their game to a much higher level to challenge the legend, and it will be interesting to see who will solve the puzzle first and topple the youngest world no. 1 in ATP history.
“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me. Juncheng has played well lately, winning his first ATP title and climbing through the ranking. I’m happy to win these kind of matches. After the match, Juncheng said it was a pleasure for him to share the court with me, and it’s great to hear such things from the upcoming players,” Carlos Alcaraz said.