It’s official. Carlos Alcaraz is the greatest 22-year-old tennis player of all time.
It’s too soon to say where Alcaraz will wind up on the all-time list for his full career. However, he has definitely achieved more than any other men’s player through age 22.
Let’s meet the most accomplished men’s tennis players at each age, based on total major championships won through the year the player celebrated that birthday.
Who are the greatest men’s tennis players at each age?
You’ll see early-career success didn’t always add up to double-digit majors. You’ll NEVER guess who had the most majors through age 20. And you’ll eventually meet all three of the Big Three – though not for several years, so to speak.
Age 18 – Boris Becker
Three men won major titles at age 17 – Becker at Wimbledon in 1985, Mats Wilander at the French in 1982, and Michael Chang at the French in 1989. Becker is the only one of the trio to win another major the following year – he defended his Wimbledon title in 1986. That makes him the most accomplished men’s tennis player at the age of 18.
Age 20 - Mats Wilander
Wilander played the 1983 Australian Open – held in December on grass courts at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in those years – mainly as preparation to represent Sweden in the Davis Cup final against Australia later in the month.
The decision didn’t help Sweden win the Davis Cup (Australia prevailed 3-2, though Wilander won both of his singles matches), but it helped Wilander amass the most productive pre-age-21 career in men’s tennis history.
Wilander won that 1983 Australian title – beating two-time defending champion Johan Kriek, reigning Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, and top-seed Ivan Lendl back-to-back-to-back - and repeated in 1984. He then won the 1985 French Open to become the only men’s player with four Grand Slam titles through age 20.
Age 22 – Carlos Alcaraz
In addition to being the only men’s player with seven major titles through age 22, Alcaraz is also the youngest player to rise to the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings (at age 19), the youngest to finish a calendar year at No. 1 (also at age 19, in 2022), and the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam.
Age 23 – Bjorn Borg
Borg, the most accomplished player of the late 1970s, won four of his six French titles and four of his five Wimbledon championships before turning 24. He stands alone (for now) as the only player with eight total majors through age 23.
Age 26 – Roger Federer
Federer was a late bloomer by the standards of this list, but his career was in full flower by his mid-20s. Federer won the 2007 U.S. Open soon after his 26th birthday – completing a stretch in which he won three majors in a year three times in four years – to become the youngest player to reach the 12-majors tally. Federer also has the most productive career, based on majors won, for ages 27 through 31.
Age 33 – Rafael Nadal
Surprisingly, it wasn’t a title at the French Open – where Nadal won the event a single-Slam record 14 times – but rather a victory at the U.S. Open that gave Nadal the most major championships for any player through the age of 33. Nadal’s triumph at the 2019 U.S. Open was his 19th Grand Slam. No other player won more through age 33.
Age 35 – Novak Djokovic
Djokovic doesn’t pull into the lead in the “most majors by age” chase until the end of our list. He won the 2023 Australian Open to become the first men’s player to win 22 majors through age 35. Djokovic won two more majors later in 2023 after turning 36, bringing his total to 24 – a record no one will approach anytime soon. (But never say never. Djokovic had just one major through age 22 …)