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The #NextGenATP cruises past former World No. 7 Gasquet for the trophy
#NextGenATP star Carlos Alcaraz won his first ATP Tour title on Sunday evening in Umag, becoming the youngest champion in more than a decade.

In a triumph that tennis fans might look back to for years, the 18-year-old defeated former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet emphatically 6-2, 6-2 to triumph at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. Alcaraz is the youngest tour-level champion since 18-year-old Kei Nishikori emerged victorious in Delray Beach in 2008.

”It’s amazing. I have a lot of emotions. I’m really, really happy with this victory, this win, my first ATP [title],” Alcaraz said. “I’m going to enjoy this moment a lot.”

The Spaniard crushed a final forehand winner to close out his victory before launching a ball high into the Croatian night. Alcaraz’s coach and mentor, former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, rose from his seat and pumped his fist while sporting a wide smile across his face to celebrate his charge's breakthrough. Shortly thereafter, the pair shared a warm embrace.

Watch Championship Point:


This was an ironic matchup in Alcaraz’s first championship clash. Gasquet was also a highly regarded teenager, who claimed his first tour-level match win as a 15-year-old in 2002, more than a year before Alcaraz was born. The Frenchman remains the youngest match winner in ATP Tour history (since 1990).

Alcaraz has had plenty of eyes on him since bursting onto the ATP Tour in Rio de Janeiro in 2020, when he also won three ATP Challenger Tour titles. It was a matter of when, not if he would position himself for tour-level glory. And on his first opportunity, the teen showed no nerves. The seventh seed overwhelmed the 15-time ATP Tour titlist with impressive power and poise over one hour and 17 minutes.

“I had a lot of good moments in this tournament. I beat five great tennis players,” Alcaraz said. “I think that I grew up a lot in this tournament and I keep a lot of experience from this tournament. It’s going to be useful for the future.”

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Gasquet has one of the most picturesque one-handed backhands of his generation and a great ability to mix up spins and speeds to trouble his opponents. But Alcaraz was never flustered against the veteran, unleashing one lethal strike after another. He broke the Frenchman’s serve four times without losing serve himself.

The 18-year-old set the tone early in the first set, cracking a rocket-like inside-in forehand for a winner to break for a 2-1 advantage, and he never looked back. Gasquet double faulted to give his younger opponent a break advantage in the second set, and he was never able to work his way back into the match.

The Frenchman earned three break points at 1-4 in the second set, but he was never able to control the rally on big points. Gasquet, who needed three hours and 11 minutes to win his semi-final against Daniel Altmaier on Saturday, was trying to win his first ATP Tour title since ’s-Hertogenbosch in 2018.

"It was tough for me to play [with] full intensity. I had a tough match yesterday. It was tough, and especially with a guy like Carlos, who is playing really fast with a lot of energy and spin," Gasquet said. "He’s playing unbelievable. He’s only 18 and of course he has a great future and I just couldn’t play at his level and his intensity. That was the key of the match and he didn’t lose a point. He played well, very solid. He’s a great player."

Did You Know?
Alcaraz is the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP Tour title since countryman Rafael Nadal claimed his first trophy in Sopot in 2004. Nadal was just eight days younger that day than Alcaraz is today.

The teenager the seventh first-time winner of 2021

#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz saw off three of the top four seeds to capture his maiden ATP Tour title at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.

The 18-year-old became the youngest tour-level winner since an 18-year-old Kei Nishikori triumphed in Delray Beach 13 years ago, and the youngest from Spain since Rafael Nadal, who was eight days younger when he prevailed in Sopot in 2004.

ATPTour.com caught up with Alcaraz following his victory over Richard Gasquet in Sunday's final.

Watch Umag Final Highlights:


How did you start playing tennis and what are some of your early memories of the sport?
I started to play tennis when I was four years old thanks to my father. He was a professional tennis player as well and he started to teach me how to play tennis. I have a club near my home and I passed it all the time. I’d play tennis and play football with my friends.

When did you realise you wanted to become a professional tennis player?
I think when I was 14 years old, which is when I started to travel around the world. In Spain, I started to win tournaments – national, international – so I realised I can be a professional tennis player. I worked hard for that and I'm reaching my dreams.

Your coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has been a very important person in your life. What do you remember from when you first met him? What makes him so special not just as a coach but as a mentor and a friend?
The first time I met him was at his academy. I went to the academy to train with some players from there and one day he told me that he wanted to train with me. I was in shock. That was the first time I met him, it was on court. Of course he's a mentor for me. He's a friend as well, so he's everything to me.

What do you think is the most important lesson he has taught you?
I think the most important thing that he taught me is I have to play every point at the same level. I have to be calm in the tough moments and play really, really aggressive. I think this is the most important thing that I learnt from him.

You've been getting a lot of attention from a young age, with many people wanting to talk to you, compare you to Rafael Nadal. How have you been able to deal with the pressure so well?
I try not to think about that. I say always the same – I'm focused on my [path]. I’m still learning, still growing up, still being friendly with everyone and am still focused on my [path].

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Today was a big day for you winning your first title. What are some of your next goals, and your biggest goals?
My goal for this year was to reach the Top 50. I think now I'm [close], so when I reach this goal I'm going to put another goal for the end of the season. My biggest goal is to reach No. 1 in the world and I'm working hard for that.

Off court, you like golfing in your free time. What are some of the other things you like doing, even if they're not sport related?
I [also] like things outside of sports. I really like to spend time with family, friends, to do some things with friends. When I finish a tournament, I really like to go to my home, to spend time with friends and family.

If you could go to dinner with any three celebrities in the world, who would you pick and why?
I don't know. Let's say Rafa, Federer and Djokovic (laughs).

How much do you look up to those three guys as legends of the sport?
I grew up watching them winning tournaments, winning Grand Slams and I think they're three of the best in history. For me, it's amazing to play against them on the same circuit. I'm a lucky guy to learn from them.

You're getting lots of fans already. What is something you would want them to know about you as a person, not a tennis player?
Let's say I'm very friendly. I'm an open person, so you can talk to me about anything.

You’re looking in good shape to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals this year. Of course, you'll celebrate your first ATP Tour title now, but how important is that to make it to Milan this year?
For me it's incredible. It's a goal. For me, it would be amazing to play the Next Gen ATP Finals against the best #NextGenATP players of the year. I would enjoy that moment.

ATPTour.com looks at the top Movers of the Week in the FedEx ATP Rankings, as of Monday, 26 July 2021
No. 55 Carlos Alcaraz +18 (Career-High)
The #NextGenATP 18 year old jumped 18 places to No. 55 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after lifting his first ATP Tour title on Sunday at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. The Spaniard is the youngest tour-level champion since 18-year-old Kei Nishikori emerged victorious in Delray Beach in 2008. Read Umag Final Report & Watch Highlights

View Latest FedEx ATP Rankings

No. 29 Cameron Norrie, +1 (Career-High)
The Brit captured a maiden ATP Tour title at the Mifel Open in Los Cabos (d. Nakashima) on Saturday evening to move up one place to a career-high World No. 29. The lefty was competing in his fourth final ATP Tour final of the season, after enjoying runs to the championship match in Estoril, Lyon, and The Queen’s Club. Read Los Cabos Final Report & Watch Highlights

No. 53 Richard Gasquet, +6
The Frenchman reached the final in Umag on Sunday to move up six spots. It was the 35-year-olds first ATP Tour final since he advanced to the championship match in Bastad In 2018.

No. 115 Brandon Nakashima, +19 (Career-High)
The 19-year-old #NextGenATP star enjoyed a dream week as he claimed a career-best victory over World No. 35 John Isner in Los Cabos as he advanced to his first ATP Tour final (l. to Norrie).

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Other Notable Top 100 Movers
No. 35 John Isner, +4
No. 80 Steve Johnson, +3
No. 88 Stefano Travaglia, +3
No. 91 Arthur Rinderknech, +9

Three #NextGenATP players reach maiden finals in same week

#NextGenATP stars Carlos Alcaraz, Hugo Gaston and Brandon Nakashima have all been highly touted, and last week they showed why as all three players broke new ground.

Eighteen-year-old Alcaraz secured the biggest breakthrough of the group on Sunday at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag by lifting his first ATP Tour trophy in a fitting triumph against Richard Gasquet, a veteran who knew only too well that hype, having been a teenage star himself.

As Alcaraz made waves on the Croatian coast, his fellow #NextGenATP hopes were making sizable inroads of their own at concurrent ATP Tour events. On Saturday, American Nakashima appeared in his first tour-level final in Los Cabos, where he came up short against top-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie. In the Swiss Alps, Frenchman Gaston was attempting to become the lowest-ranked Gstaad champion since the FedEx ATP Rankings began in 1973. But in his first tour-level final, the lefty found third seed Casper Ruud too tough.

Nevertheless, it was a memorable week for all three talented players.

Alcaraz’s 6-2, 6-2 victory over former world No. 7 Gasquet made him the youngest ATP Tour titlist since an 18-year-old Kei Nishikori in Delray Beach 13 years ago. Alcaraz became the youngest tour-level winner from Spain since countryman Rafael Nadal, who was eight days younger when he won in Sopot 17 years ago.

“I had a lot of good moments in this tournament. I beat five great tennis players,” Alcaraz said. “I think that I grew up a lot in this tournament and I keep a lot of experience from this tournament. It’s going to be useful for the future.”

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The teenager first announced himself last February, when as a 16-year-old ranked outside the Top 400, he stunned countryman Albert Ramos-Vinolas in Rio de Janeiro on his ATP Tour main draw debut. He again defeated his fellow Spaniard in the Umag semi-finals on Saturday – one of three top-four seeds he defeated on his title run.

Victory over former Top 10 star John Isner on Friday made the 19-year-old Nakashima the youngest American to reach an ATP Tour final since an 18-year-old Taylor Fritz in Memphis five years ago. Having failed to win a tour-level match all season entering the week, he fell one victory shy of becoming the youngest man from the United States to win a trophy outside his home country since 19-year-old Michael Chang in Birmingham in 1991.

“Making a first ATP final is a great accomplishment for me, but obviously we want to be on top at the end of this week. I know now from this week and this loss what I need to work on to bring home that title next time,” Nakashima said following his 2-6, 2-6 defeat against Norrie. “Hopefully in these next couple of tournaments in the U.S. before the US Open I’ll be able to get some good results and hopefully be able to pick up my first ATP title as well.

“I definitely learned a lot from this week – both positively and negatively – what I need to work on, specifically my fitness needs to improve, playing all these tough matches this week.”

At Roland Garros in 2020, Gaston made an emphatic Grand Slam debut before his home crowd when he defeated former champion Stan Wawrinka en route to the fourth round. It took two-time finalist Dominic Thiem to stop him in five sets, but he had done enough to boost French expectations. Nine months later, the 20-year-old beat three seeds in succession to reach the championship match in Gstaad, before Norwegian Ruud ended his run 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday.

“I tried to do my best, but I am happy overall with my week,” Gaston said. “I hope I can continue like this. It is amazing to play in an ATP Tour final. Now I need some rest for my body, but I feel good.”

Alcaraz’s breakthrough lifted him to No. 5 in the ATP Race to Milan, where he has his sights set on making his Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals debut. Gaston rose two places to eighth place, while Nakashima is now nipping at his heels in ninth.

“For me it's incredible. It's a goal,” Alcaraz said of his Milan prospects. “It would be amazing to play the [Intesa Sanpaolo] Next Gen ATP Finals against the best Next Gen [players] of the year. I would enjoy that moment.”