Alcaraz, 17, Joins Nadal As Youngest Spanish Challenger Champions

Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. That's it. That's the list. The youngest players from Spain to lift a trophy on the ATP Challenger Tour.

On Sunday, the 17-year-old Alcaraz had his maiden moment in the spotlight, streaking to the title at the Challenger 100 event in Trieste, Italy. It was a marathon week for the teen, who won seven matches in nine days on the clay of the Tennis Club Triestino. After emerging from qualifying, he dropped just one set in the main draw, culminating in a 6-4, 6-3 win over home hope Riccardo Bonadio.

At the age of 17 years and three months, Alcaraz joined elite company with his maiden crown. Nadal is the only Spaniard who has won a Challenger title at a younger age. The former World No. 1 captured his first title in Barletta, Italy, as a 16-year-old and was two months younger than Alcaraz when he added a second crown on home soil in Segovia. In addition, Alcaraz is one of just four 17-year-olds from Spain to triumph on the circuit, joining Nadal, Nicola Kuhn and Nicolas Almagro.

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Alcaraz is fast becoming one of the hottest young stars in the game and he put the entire circuit on notice this week, boasting an attacking mentality and bold shotmaking. Armed with a lethal arsenal from the baseline and a biting drop shot, the Spaniard isn't afraid to use all corners of the court to plot his assault.

Youngest Challenger Champions Since 2010

After nearly six months on the sidelines, due to the COVID-19 hiatus, Alcaraz was itching to return to the court. The Spaniard, who had notched his first match win on the ATP Tour in February, in Rio de Janeiro, was eager to build on the momentum. Just two weeks into the restart, it did not take him long to rediscover his form.

Alcaraz became the youngest player to win an ATP Challenger Tour title since Felix Auger-Aliassime in 2017 (Sevilla). The Canadian was two months younger at the time. Also, he is the fourth-youngest winner since 2010, with only Auger-Aliassime (two titles) and Alexander Zverev lifting trophies at a younger age.

Having opened the year just inside the Top 500 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, the Murcia native is already closing in on the Top 200. He rises 93 spots to a career-high No. 217 on Monday.