How Rafael Nadal’s Masters 1000 record at 22 stacks up against Carlos Alcaraz’s

Carlos Alcaraz is matching up well with some of the game’s greats, having accomplished a lot by age 22.

His recent win at the Qatar Open was his 26th title on the ATP Tour, adding to a trophy cabinet that already includes seven Grand Slams.

At the same stage in their careers, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal hadn’t won as many Grand Slams as Alcaraz has now. But when it comes to Masters 1000 titles, he’s still quite far behind Nadal.

Rafael Nadal’s Masters record before 23 is unmatched

Alcaraz has already picked up eight Masters titles in his career, a strong start by any measure. But Nadal’s numbers before turning 23 are on another level entirely.

The King of Clay had claimed 15 Masters trophies by that age, nearly double what Alcaraz has managed so far.

Nadal’s strength on clay saw him collect multiple titles at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Italian Open, Madrid Open, and the German Open.

But it wasn’t just clay where he excelled. He also picked up Masters wins on hard courts at the Canadian Open and Indian Wells.

While Nadal’s overall record remains a tough benchmark for anyone to match, Alcaraz still has time to close the gap a bit more.

Carlos Alcaraz’s path to Rafael Nadal’s Masters record

Alcaraz will celebrate his 23rd birthday on May 5, giving him a few more Masters events to try and close the gap on his fellow Spaniard.

Nadal had already secured an incredible 15 titles at this age, compared to Alcaraz’s eight. The upcoming Masters calendar before Alcaraz turns 23 includes Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, and Madrid Open.

Even if he wins all four – a tough ask given the competition – that would still only take him to 12 titles. It’s a number most players would dream of, but it wouldn’t quite match Nadal’s early pace.

It speaks volumes about Nadal’s achievements that even an undefeated run through the next year wouldn’t bring Alcaraz level with him. While Alcaraz may have edged ahead in early Grand Slam wins, Nadal’s dominance at the Masters level is likely to remain unmatched for some time.

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