“I'm on the right road to be No. 1 in the world": Now Top 20, Carlos Alcaraz sets sights higher
The Spanish teen just won his first ATP 500 title in Rio de Janeiro last week, and made his first major quarterfinal at the 2021 US Open.
WATCH: Alcaraz won the biggest title of his career in Rio, becoming the youngest man since Rafael Nadal to crack the Top 20.
Carlos Alcaraz is into the Top 20 in the ATP rankings, but he's aiming for the top spot. Not right away, though.
The 18-year-old is just a little younger than Rafael Nadal was in 2005 when the Spanish legend joined the ranks of the 20 best players on tour. He did it by winning the title in Rio, the same tournament where he got his first ATP victory as a wild card two years ago.
"When I won my first ATP match here two years ago, I remember coming here, wanting to enjoy the experience and learn the most I could," Alcaraz was quoted as saying to Eurosport following his title victory. "This year, I already had very high expectations, knowing I could beat anyone and was one of the favorites for the title. Achieving this success is very good."
It's the biggest title he's won in his career so far, with his first coming in 2021 in Umag, but he looks at it as another step towards bigger accomplishments.
"This title gives me a lot of confidence in what I'm doing because I think I'm on the right road to be No. 1 in the world," Alcaraz said. "That is my goal because I am someone who dreams big. If I stay on this road, I know I will have opportunities to achieve it, but I know the difficulty and what I have achieved so far does not assure it."
First, he wants to establish himself at this level.
"Right now, I have set myself the goal of staying in the Top 20, and moving up the positions little by little," Alcaraz said. "I am working a lot on controlling my emotions, my nerves in the important moments when matches are decided."
The teen, citing fatigue, has withdrawn from this week's event in Acapulco.