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Carlos Alcaraz

The Five Best Tennis Players of 2022

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Another season of tennis is nearly done and dusted, and this year was one which saw a couple of the brightest stars we’ve seen in a long time establish themselves at the top of their respective world rankings. Elsewhere, a few more experienced names continued to enjoy plenty of success, while some rose to prominence after years in the doldrums. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five best tennis players of 2022.

Iga Swiatek

Iga Swiatek rose to prominence when she won the 2020 French Open at the age of just 19, but this year has been by far the best of her career. She started it by making a semi-final at the Australian Open before winning at Roland Garros for the second time, and she went on to add a third major to her trophy cabinet later in the year at the US Open. On top of that, she made a huge seven other WTA Finals, and incredibly won six of them – usually with consummate ease. In her first seven wins of the season – included in which are the French Open and US Open wins – she didn’t drop a set in the final, and in the first six of those she lost less than four games on average per match. It was a dominant season by any stretch of the imagination, and sees her atop the world rankings with 10,335 points – second place has a comparatively meagre 4,555. At just 21 years of age she has separated herself from the pack as completely peerless, and as an indication of just how far ahead of that pack she is, PlayUp Australia in their early markets have her nearly three times shorter to win the 2023 Australian Open than any of her competitors.

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz has enjoyed a rapid rise in 2022. Just 18 years old at the beginning of the season, there were already high expectations surrounding him and a quarter-final appearance at the US Open to end 2021 did nothing to dull them. Few, however, could have predicted just how good he would be already this year. After a third round exit at the Australian Open, he made a quarter-final at Roland Garros, a fourth round at Wimbledon and then won the US Open, in doing so becoming the youngest world number one in the history of male tennis. And he’s not likely to go anywhere fast, with betting sites installing him as one of the favourites for the Australian Open in 2023 – the next Grand Slam on the calendar. A talented all-court player who has drawn comparisons to a number of different superstars who have preceded him, the Spaniard won’t turn 20 until May of next year, and if he continues on the trajectory that he is currently on, will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is at the opposite end of his career to Alcaraz, but the two are side by side in the ATP world rankings. Having not won a Grand Slam title since 2020, Nadal started the year in fine form by winning the Australian Open, in doing so becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles – breaking the three-way tie he shared with Federer and Djokovic, two of his long-time rivals. He unsurprisingly backed that up at Roland Garros to move to 22, with that being an incredible 14th title at the French Open out of 18 appearances. He also made a semi-final at Wimbledon before being bundled out in the fourth round at the US Open, but regardless, at 36 years of age, the man affectionately known as Rafa still appears to have plenty to give.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success – at least at a Grand Slam level – as the above two names this year, but he’s still done enough to achieve a career high world ranking of three. He started his year with a semi-final appearance at the Australian Open, though his Grand Slam performance has steadily declined since; he was knocked out in the fourth round at Roland Garros, the third round at Wimbledon, and the first round at the US Open. He has, however, had a great time of it in non-majors. Having previously made three ATP Masters 1000 Finals in his career, he doubled that number in 2022, making it to the final two at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Italian Open and Cincinnati Masters. He lost two of those, but nonetheless it was a strong year for the Athenian, and at just 24 years of age he still has plenty of room to continue his upward trajectory.

Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur is probably not a name many would have expected to see on such a list at the beginning of the year. She’s been on tour for a decade, but it’s only since 2020 that she’s consistently started making it past the early stages of Grand Slams. Until this year, that hadn’t manifested in anything more than a couple of quarter-finals, but after missing the Australian Open and then losing her opening match at Roland Garros, she rolled through to consecutive finals at Wimbledon and US Open. Unfortunately she went down in both of them – the first to Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and the second to the rampaging Iga Swiatek – but nonetheless this year was a massive step forward for her, and she has skyrocketed to the number two ranking in the world as a result.

2022 has been an intriguing season of tennis, and come its end it appears likely that two players aged 21 and under will find themselves sitting atop the ATP and WTA world rankings. Iga Swiatek, in particular, has been extraordinary this year, putting together one of the best seasons in living memory, while Carlos Alcatraz has also established himself as a star not just of the future, but of today. Elsewhere, Rafael Nadal has continued his extraordinary career, Stefanos Tsitsipas has capitalised on his ability, and Ons Jabeur has made a surprise rise to the top, and it’s these five players who have earned the right to be called the best of 2022.

Before Carlos Alcaraz, Rafa Nadal Was The Last Teenager To Win A Men’s Major Title

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Before Carlos Alcaraz, the last teenager to win a men’s major title was Rafael Nadal, also from Spain, when he won the French singles title in 2005. No one could document tennis history, and make you smile at the same time, quite like the late, great Bud Collins. The following is an excerpt from “The Bud Collins History of Tennis” book where Bud describes Nadal’s debut on the scene and his first major singles title just after his 19th birthday in Paris.

     “Vamos, Rafa!”

     That was the cry heard increasingly throughout the world as the big, fast and vivacious 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Nadal came into view.  Not just “promising,” which would be enough for most at that age – but as a major champion.

     It’s thrilling as tennis evolves to watch a kid burst onto the scene and make an historic mark.  Think of Billie Jean King at the 1961 Wimbledon doubles, Chris Evert at the 1971 U.S. Open, Evonne Goolagong at 1971 Wimbledon, Jimmy Connors at the 1973 U.S. Pro, Bjorn Borg at the 1974 French, Tracy Austin at the 1977 U.S. Open, Martina Navratilova at 1978 Wimbledon, Boris Becker at 1985 Wimbledon, Steffi Graf at the 1986 U.S. Open, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Michael Chang at the 1989 French, the Sisters Williams at the U.S. Open – Venus in 1997, Serena in 1999 – Martina Hingis at the 1997 Australian.

      And Mats Wilander, 17, at the 1982 French, winning it on the first visit. It was Nadal who made such a move in 2005, champion as a novitiate. Only he and the Swede, Mats won at Roland Garros in their first attempt. In fact, Rafa, as 2008 dawned, remained undefeated in Paris, overpowering Argentine Puerta in 2005, then none other than Roger Federer in 2006-07.

     After a round of 16 showing at the Australian Open, losing to eventual finalist Lleyton Hewitt in a titantic struggle 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, Nadal took clay titles at Costa Do Sauipe, Brazil, 6-0, 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, over Spain’s Alberto Martin, and Acapulco, Mexico, 6-1, 6-0, over another Spaniard Albert Montanes, and made an impressive hard-court gallop to the final of Key Biscayne, simmering down against Federer in the final, 2-6, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-1.

     Back to the comfort of clay, Rafa hiccupped in a quarterfinal loss to Russia’s Igor Andreev in Valencia, 7-5, 6-2, but would not lose another match on the dirt for another 25 months. He won Monte Carlo, beating Guillermo Coria, 6-3, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5, then Barcelona, taking out Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 and then in Rome in an epic Italian final over Coria, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). The excellently fought five hour and 14 minute job was the longest ever final at Il Foro Italico, and the match of the year, as Nadal rose from 0-3 in the fifth, watched Coria blunt three match points in the tie-breaker before missing a backhand. Called “El Mago” (magician) by his admirers, Coria made himself disappear with the concluding error.

     At the French, Nadal surrendered sets to Sebastien Grosjean (6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 in the round of 16), and to Federer (6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals) before hanging on to take out the difficult unseeded upstart, No. 37 Puerta, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5, in the rare all-lefty final. Nadal was the seventh Spaniard to win the men’s prize at Roland Garros and one of five teen-age champs. In December, it was announced that Puerta failed a drug test after the French final – testing positive for the stimulant etilefrine. Puerta was forced to return his prize money, was stripped of his points and suspended eight months (later shortened to two years on appeal).

Had drugs helped his endurance?  Some thought so, considering his long battles in the quarters and semis: over Argentine Willy Canas, 6-2, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, and over Russian Nikolay Davydenko, 6-3, 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, but a three-person panel concluded that Puerta mistakenly ingested the drug will drinking out of his wife’s wine glass.

Gaston Gaudio labored hard to keep his French title, but another Spaniard, David Ferrer, unseated him in the fourth round, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-4.

     Nadal finished the year with 11 titles – tied with Federer for tops for the year – a 70-15 won-loss record, but was a solid No. 2 behind Federer, who won Wimbledon for a third straight year and the U.S. Open for a second time.

Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open

Carlos Alcaraz: A Legend Built On Labor Day Week In New York City

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by Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

The Carlos Alcaraz victory at the 2022 U.S. Open will go down in history in many ways – it was his first of many projected major titles, he did it at age 19, the second youngest ever at the U.S. Open and ascended him to being the youngest No. 1 of all time on the ATP computer, and for his long and late night efforts to reach the final.

With only minutes after Alcaraz fell flat on his back as the new champion after his 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 final-round win over Norway’s Casper Ruud, the ESPN threesome of John and Patrick McEnroe and play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler instantly put the Alcaraz achievement into context.

“What we’ve seen is extraordinary,” said Fowler. “You’ve seen a legend be built on Labor Day week in New York City. The journey to get here. I hope you were around for this week. If you weren’t, it was down a break to (Marin) Cilic in the fifth set, the past champion here, dug out of that. The (Jannik) Sinner match was just… I call it transformative. I think it was an amazing display of tennis at a new level. You got a chance to see that. (Frances) Tiafoe put up a tremendous fight. (Casper) Ruud pushed back hard today. So he had to earn it against a bunch of young guys and a veteran, a past champion here.”

Patrick McEnroe then commentated, “There’s no doubt he had to do it the hard way. And when you look at the fact that he’s going to become No. 1 in the world, I mean that’s incredible to do that at this age. But he’s done it because he’s got the most titles of anyone on tour, two Masters events as well. 51 wins this year. That’s also the most… He’s just got so much flare for the game. And he is also got a lot of personality. He loves being out there. Being close up, as I was lucky enough to be during this match, you could see even when he made some of those misses, he just said, “Okay, no problem.” Looked up to his box. And you mentioned it in the middle of the match, which I thought was really insightful, right on the money, he doesn’t look to the box, he’s got it within himself. He actually looks to them and says, “Don’t worry, I got this. I got this covered.” And that was what he showed in all those matches that you talked about, even when he was under pressure, had to deal with adversity, just kept coming back.

Continued Fowler, “No teen has won a major since (Rafa) Nadal did it in 2005. Often they’re compared because from the same country, and he’s just a little bit older than Pete Sampras was, who was the only teenager before him to when a title at the U,S. Open. And again, the first teenager to reach No. 1in the world. Ruud will sit there at No. 2. How long will he hold No. 1? We’ll talk about why there might be an asterisk about No. 1 (due to Wimbledon not receiving ATP ranking points) that’s debatable. The result today, his performance in the Open is not.”

Just a few minutes earlier, just a few moments after Alcaraz has won the match, Fowler described him as “more than a prodigy, perhaps a truly special one. Perhaps the first of many, many, many majors.”

“I would be amazed if that’s not the case,” countered John McEnroe, calling the Alcaraz title run “a superhuman effort.”

“(He’s) masterful of so many levels,” added Fowler. “The firepower is obvious. That’s what’s won him fans, but all the subtle things that you and Patrick (McEnroe) throughout this run have talked about. The management of the moment, the tactical acumen, the variety in his game.”

“He’s got absolutely everything,” countered McEnroe. “It’s hard to imagine anyone mentally as tough as him and, this isn’t hyperbole, one of the fastest… court covers, speed demons you’ll ever see on a tennis court.”

“It’s about health and if you can manage that,” countered Fowler. “The sky is the limit.”

Carlos Alcaraz Wins Historic, Late-Night Epic Over Jannik Sinner, Seeks More Tennis History

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By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher

He’s only 19 years old, but Carlos Alcaraz is already re-writing the tennis record books.

Early Thursday morning, Alcaraz closed out a 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 win over Jannik Sinner in the second-longest and latest finishing match in U.S. Open history, concluding at 2:50 am.

The five hour and 15 minute quarterfinal marathon was 11 minutes shorter than the longest-ever U.S. Open match, Stefan Edberg beating Michael Chang in 5:26 in the U.S. Open semifinals in 1992. The second-longest listed match in the U.S. Open’s record book is when Sargis Sargsian defeated Nicolas Massu in the 2004 second round in 5:09 by a 6-7, 6-4,3-6, 7-6, 6-4 scoreline. However, a Google search revealed that a 1993 third round match between Richard Krajicek and Todd Martin actually lasted one minute longer, Krajicek winning 6–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–4, 6–4 in five hours, ten minutes.

Alcaraz is on the cusp of more history as he could become the youngest world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings at the end of the tournament and, with a title on Sunday, would become the second youngest U.S. Open men’s singles champion, behind Pete Sampras, who won the 1990 U.S. Open less than a month after turning 19.

The 2:50 am finishing time between Alcaraz and Sinner knocks three matches out of U.S. Open record book as latest finishing matches ever in New York, as detailed below.

Sept. 2, 2014 – Kei Nishikori defeats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 in four hours, 19 minutes in a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open that ends at 2:26 am, tying the tournament’s record for the latest finish. Nishikori and Raonic’s finish at the exact time as the 2012 match when Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated John Isner and the 1993 match when Mats Wilander defeated Mikael Pernfors. When asked by reporters if he was impressed by the late finish record, Raonic responds, “Not in the slightest bit.”

Sept. 3, 2012 – Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany registers a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over John Isner in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, concluding at 2:26 am on Labor Day morning. The match is the second of three U.S. Open matches to conclude at this exact time, the latest ever finish in U.S. Open history. In 1993, Mats Wilander defeats Mikael Pernfors in five sets in the first U.S. Open match to finish at 2:26 and two years later, Kei Nishikori outlasts Milos Raonic also in five sets, concluding at 2:26.

Sept. 4, 1993 – Mats Wilander finally defeats Mikael Pernfors 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in a 4 hour, 1 minute match that concludes at 2:26 am – the latest ever conclusion of a U.S. Open match. In the post-match press conference, when asked if he had ever played this late in the evening, Wilander dead-pans, “Played what?” In amazing coincidences, the 2:26 am latest finish time is tied, exactly to the minute, two times in later years, in 2012 when Philipp Kohlschreiber beats John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 4-6,6-3, 6-4 and 2014 when Kei Nishikori beats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4.

Alcaraz beat Marin Cilic in five sets in the fourth round earlier this week in another late-night marathon that ended at 2:23 am.

Against Sinner, Alcaraz saved a match point with Sinner serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set. However, he missed an easy, open-court forehand on a set point in the second set that would have given him a two-sets-to-love lead.

Alcaraz Win Over Cilic Added To List of U.S. Open Matches To Finish After 2:00 AM

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

There is a saying that nothing good happens after 2:00 am.

That is, except at the U.S. Open.

The fourth-round epic where Carlos Alcaraz defeated Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 finished officially at 2:23 am early morning on Tuesday, September 6, making it the fourth latest finishing match in U.S. Open history.

The match was three minutes shy of tying the all-time record, which strangely is shared between three matches is outlined below from my “On This Day In Tennis History” compilation

Sept. 2, 2014 – Kei Nishikori defeats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 in four hours, 19 minutes in a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open that ends at 2:26 am, tying the tournament’s record for the latest finish. Nishikori and Raonic’s finish at the exact time as the 2012 match when Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated John Isner and the 1993 match when Mats Wilander defeated Mikael Pernfors. When asked by reporters if he was impressed by the late finish record, Raonic responds, “Not in the slightest bit.”

Sept. 3, 2012 – Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany registers a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over John Isner in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, concluding at 2:26 am on Labor Day morning. The match is the second of three U.S. Open matches to conclude at this exact time, the latest ever finish in U.S. Open history. In 1993, Mats Wilander defeats Mikael Pernfors in five sets in the first U.S. Open match to finish at 2:26 and two years later, Kei Nishikori outlasts Milos Raonic also in five sets, concluding at 2:26.

Sept. 4, 1993 – Mats Wilander finally defeats Mikael Pernfors 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in a 4 hour, 1 minute match that concludes at 2:26 am – the latest ever conclusion of a U.S. Open match. In the post-match press conference, when asked if he had ever played this late in the evening, Wilander dead-pans, “Played what?” In amazing coincidences, the 2:26 am latest finish time is tied, exactly to the minute, two times in later years, in 2012 when Philipp Kohlschreiber beats John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 4-6,6-3, 6-4 and 2014 when Kei Nishikori beats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4.

Interesting enough, Cilic played two matches that finished after 2 am, also defeating Alex DeMinaur in 2018 in a match that finished at 2:22 am, one minute earlier than his loss to Alcaraz. Rafael Nadal has also played two U.S. Open matches that finished after 2 am. The following is the list of matches to finish after 2 am in U.S. Open history.

Here are the latest finished of matches since night tennis began at the US Open.

2:26 a.m. – Kei Nishikori d. Milos Raonic / 4R in 2014

2:26 a.m. – Philipp Kohlschreiber d. John Isner / 3R in 2012

2:26 a.m. – Mats Wilander d. Mikael Pernfors / 2R in 1993

2:22 a.m. – Marin Cilic d. Alex de Minaur / 3R in 2018

2:14 a.m. – Frances Tiafoe d. Andrey Rublev / 3R in 2021

2:14 a.m. – Younes El Aynaoui d. Wayne Ferreira / 4R in 2002

2:13 a.m. – Maria Sakkari d. Bianca Andreescu / 4R in 2021

2:11 a.m. – Rafael Nadal d. Mardy Fish / QF in 2008

2:03 a.m. – Rafael Nadal d. Dominic Thiem / QF in 2018

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek Show At Miami Open That Tennis Is In Good Hands With Next Generation

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

For all the anxiety in tennis about a post-Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena and Venus Williams world, the 2022 Miami Open proved that the sport will remain in good hands.

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, age 18 and 20 respectively, dazzled crowds of over 20,000 daily fans over the weekend in Hard Rock Stadium in claiming the men’s and women’s titles respectively at one of the biggest tournaments in tennis.

Swiatek adjusted dramatically to being suddenly thrust into the world No. 1 ranking after the sudden retirement of Ash Barty at the start of the event with a one-sided 6-4, 6-0 victory over Naomi Osaka in the women’s final on Saturday. On Sunday, Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4 to become the youngest man to win a singles title at the Miami Open and third youngest to ever win a Masters 1000 level tournament.

The Miami Open was one of the few big tournaments that did not feature any of the hallmark players of this last generation – Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and the Williams sisters, but the buzz for the tournament did not subside. After the era of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors came Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras and after them came Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. For the women, after Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert came Steffi Graf and Monica Seles and the Williams sisters following that. Swiatek and Alcaraz may be the ones to the carry the torch in the next generation.

Swiatek was the surprise winner of the French Open in 2020, played in front a limited fans and in the non-traditional autumn date due to COVID-19. However, she came into her own in Miami, embracing the new pressure thrust upon her as the new world No. 1 and decisively cruised to the title, not losing the set and dominating four-time major champion Osaka in the final.

“She went from being elated to be No. 2 to ‘Oh my goodness,’” said Lindsay Davenport on Tennis Channel in the middle of the Miami Open of the sudden change from being “the hunter” to be “the hunted” in women’s pro tennis.

Combined with her win in Indian Wells two weeks earlier, Swiatek became only the fourth player to win the “Sunshine Double” of the two premier Spring U.S. hard court tournaments, joining Steff Graf, Kim Clijsters and Vika Azarenka.

“I am still hungry. I want to win very much,” said Swiatek to Tennis Channel of her mind-set and her avoiding complacency after clinching the No. 1 ranking. “I knew I couldn’t have focused on rankings, but to focus on tennis.”

The emergence of Alcaraz created the most excitement with his “bone-crushing” groundstrokes and Nadal-like fight and grit. Any time a young teenager starts to make their mark in tennis, it draws a lot of buzz and Alcaraz caught the attention of sports fans. Last year at the U.S. Open, he won a dramatic fifth-set tiebreaker decision of world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas to become the youngest man to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals. In 2022, entering Miami, he lost only two matches, losing to top 10 star Matteo Berrettini in a fifth-set tiebreaker at the Australian Open and in a topsy-turvy semifinal in Indian Wells to Nadal. He won his first two singles titles in his a career at the ATP 250 event in Umag in 2021 and the ATP 500 event in Rio de Janiero earlier this year..

“He’s the best at his age since Nadal. I don’t think there is any question about that,” said Jim Courier on Tennis Channel.

Alcaraz became the third youngest man to win a Masters 1000 title with his Miami title, behind Michael Chang and Nadal. He also did something that Nadal had never done, which is win in Miami, one of the few career titles that Nadal had never won, him coming closest exactly 17 years to the day of the Alcaraz win when he lost to Roger Federer from two-sets-to-love ahead.

“He’s won a 250, he’s won a 500, now he’s won a 1000, What’s next gang?” Courier asked Tennis Channel co-hosts Brett Haber and Navratilova, hinting that he is likely on the verge of breaking through and winning his first major singles title.

“He’s one of the top four people you have to talk about in majors going forward,” said Navratilova, pointing out that only Nadal, Djokovic and world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev would be favored over him to win majors the rest of the year as it stands now.

Said Alcaraz to Tennis Channel shortly after his win on what is next,” Hopefully, I will win a Grand Slam this year, but it is tough.”