7 tennis players who won tournaments as teenagers

• Carlos Alcaraz recently won the Miami Open at only 18 years
• But, he was following in the steps of legendary players who won tournaments at that age
• One of them is Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who won tournaments when they were 19 and 20 respectively

Carlos Alcaraz made history by winning the Miami Open at only 19 but he was only following in the steps of other tennis stars who won major tournaments in their teenage years.

The Spaniard surged to the top 10 in the ATP rankings after upsetting Casper Rudd at the South Florida tournament.

No one thought he could end up with such a huge victory amidst big names in tennis who fell off midway. Today, Alcaraz is enjoying the status of ‘King of Miami’.

Alcaraz became the first Spaniard to win the Miami Open title in the event’s 37-year history. He beat Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-4 on Sunday to claim the title of “King of Miami” status.

However, before him there were those who stunned the world with similar performances. Here they are.

RAFAEL NADAL – 19 YEARS

Rafael Nadal. Photo/Sky Sports

Carlos Alcaraz has been described as the new Rafael Nadal, although in truth they don’t share many similarities.

One thing they do have in common, though, is that they displayed their quality from very early on in their careers.

Nadal is the greatest clay court player of all time. In 2005, Nadal made his move when he was just 19.

He won 11 tournaments that year, including his first Grand Slam and four Masters. Eight of those titles were on clay court.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC – 19 YEARS

You can count on Novak Djokovic to make an appearance on any list of male tennis accomplishments.

As a teen, Djokovic was a very different player. He was, in fact, prone to erratic behavior.

It was in Miami that he claimed his lone Masters crown. Having won three ATP 250 tournament titles prior to this, this was a significant step up for him and a career-defining victory.

MARAT SAFIN – 20 YEARS

Marat Safin was one of the greatest Russian male tennis players at the turn of the century.

When Safin won the Canadian Masters, he was ranked eighth in the world, making him a well-known player.

His path to the championship was a little kinder than most, but he probably earned it by beating Pete Sampras in the quarter-finals.

Safin’s was one of the most impressive among the youngest winners. Throughout his career, he won a total of another four championships.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV – 20 YEARS

Alexander Zverev was the next big thing before Carlos Alcaraz even became a huge deal in the tennis community.

Zverev never had the awe-inspiring stature of Alcaraz, but his accomplishments as a young player are impressive nonetheless.

The 24-year-old Serbian has five Masters 1000 singles titles, two ATP Finals crowns, and a Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance under his belt.

It was only a month after turning 20 that he beat Djokovic in the final of Rome, and many consider that victory to be the best of his career because of his tough semifinal opponents, including Milos Raonic and John Isner.

ANDRE AGASSI – 19 YEARS

The inclusion of Andre Agassi on this list comes as no surprise. With 60 ATP trophies to his name, including eight Grand Slams and 17 Masters, he did not disappoint.

In 1990, while still a teenager, he won his first Masters tournament. He was already ranked fifth in the world and had previously won nine ATP 250/500 tournaments, but the accomplishment was nonetheless extraordinary.

In the championship match, Agassi defeated the legendary Stefan Edberg in straight sets. In the third, Edberg appeared to have the teen’s number as he bageled him.

Most thought the momentum had shifted and experience alone would see the Swede home from there.

In the end, Agassi exhibited the kind of resolve that would make him famous, came back, and won with ease.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV – 19 years

Andrei Medvedev. Photo/Tennis World USA

First, Andrei Medvedev is not related to Daniil Medvedev, the current world No. 2, but he was an excellent player in his own right.

However, Medvedev was one of those players who never quite delivered on his potential, despite the fact that he appeared to have all the potential in the world as a kid.

In the 1994 Monte Carlo Masters, he was ranked sixth in the world, and he put on an excellent performance.

He defeated Jim Courier and Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the semi-finals before taking on Sergi Bruguera in the final.

SERGI BRUGUERA – 19 YEARS

When it comes to clay courts, Spaniards have a natural affinity for them. In this respect, Bruguera was no different. In fact, he won 13 of his 14 career titles on clay courts.

If you ever wanted to get your hands dirty, then Monte Carlo is the place to do so. Bruguera won the tournament twice, and those were the only two Masters victories he had during his career.

In his debut match, he defeated Boris Becker in the finals when he was just out of his teen years. What you just said is more amazing than it actually is. In spite of his incredible talent, Becker never won a clay-court tournament.