When a young and rising star makes a mark, it is a reason to celebrate. The younger they are, the more impressive their achievements are and the more they showcase their talent. Numerous tennis players have achieved esteemed Grand Slam titles, very few have done it at such a tender age. In this article, we will discuss the youngest Grand Slam champion in the Open Era.

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Youngest Grand Slam Champion

10. Carlos Alcaraz Garfia | 19 years 3 months 24 days

Great things were predicted about him since 2021 but no one expected him to rise so quickly as he won the US Open in what was only his second attempt. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, (7-1), 6-3 in what was considered the youngest ever US Open final where the Norwegian was only 23 years old.

Alcaraz had reached the quarterfinals when he made his US Open debut last year. He also became the youngest Spanish player to win a Grand Slam title after his compatriot Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005.

9. Mats Wilander | 19 years 3 months 7 days

Mats Wilander, who was known as a clay-court specialist, triumphed on the grass courts of the Australian Open to everyone’s surprise, defeating Ivan Lendl in the 1983 final (6-1, 6-4, 6-4) at the age of 19. The Swede had participated in the event mainly to prepare for the Davis Cup.

8. Pete Sampras | 19 years 15 days

America’s Pete Sampras became US Open’s youngest-ever men’s singles champion in 1990 as he defeated Andre Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. He also defeated Ivan Lendl on his way to reaching the finals, where he also ended Lendl’s streak of reaching his eighth men’s singles finals in a row at the US Open. This was the first of Pete’s 14 major titles, which was also an Open Era record until Roger Federer overtook him.

7. Bjorn Borg | 18 years 11 months 28 days

Defending champion Björn Borg defeated Guillermo Vilas in the final, 6–2, 6–3, 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1975 French Open at the age of 19. It was his second French Open title and second major title overall.

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6. Rafael Nadal | 18 years 11 months 20 days

Spain’s Rafael Nadal won his first Grand Slam title way back in 2005. Just a few days after his 19th birthday, Nadal defeated Argentina’s Mariarno Puerta 6-7, (6-8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 at the Roland Garros and won the first of his 14 titles in Paris.

Rafa became the first teenager to win a major singles title after Pete Sampras who won the 1990 US Open. In 2005, his breakthrough year, Nadal won a staggering 11 ATP titles. Just a few days after his 19th birthday, Nadal defeated Argentina’s Mariarno Puerta 6-7, (6-8), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 at the Roland Garros and won the first of his 14 titles in Paris. (Photo Credit: AP)

5. Boris Becker | 18 years 7 months 1 day

The 18-year-old West German made it back-to-back Wimbledon titles, beating pre-tournament favourite Ivan Lendl, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 in 1986, for the 100th men’s singles title. Boris Becker won six Grand Slam singles titles overall – three at Wimbledon (1985, 1986, 1989), two at the Australian Open (1991, 1996) and one at the US Open (1989).

4. Bjorn Borg | 17 years 11 months 27 days

Sweden’s Bjorn Borg was often referred to as the “Ice Man” or the “Ice Boy” during his teens. He represented Sweden in the 1972 Davis Cup at the age of 15 and turned professional a year later.

He didn’t have a full season of the tour when he won the first of his 11 Grand Slam titles at the 1974 Roland Garros, just a few days after his 18th birthday. His last Grand Slam title came at the 1981 French Open.

3. Mats Wilander | 17 years 9 months 2 days

This Swedish tennis player turned professional in 1981 at the age of 17 and just a year later won his first Grand Slam title at 1982 Roland Garros where he defeated Guillermo Vilas 1-6, (7-6), (8-6), 6-0, 6-4. Mats Wilander added six more Grand Slam titles with the last one being the 1988 US Open. He also won the Australian and French Open that year and also reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

2. Boris Becker | 17 years 7 months 2 days

Germany’s Boris Becker became the first unseeded player to win Wimbledon in 1985. He is the second youngest Grand Slam champion. Becker turned professional in 1984 but he defeated America’s Kevin Curren 6-3,6-7, (4-7), 7-6, (7-3), 6-4 in the 1985 Wimbledon final. Becker went on to win five more major titles in his career with the last one being the 1996 Australian Open.

Also Read: Most Grand Slam finals in tennis history

1. Michael Chang | 17 years 3 months 7 days

Young American, Michael Chang became the youngest Grand Slam champion when he won the 1989 French Open with a 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Sweden’s Stefan Edberg. Chang was a school dropout at the age of 15 and in 1988 turned professional.

Just a year later, he won the men’s singles trophy at the Roland Garros. This was his only Grand Slam title but he did reach two other major finals in 1996 where he finished as the runner-up at the Australian Open and US Open.

Tag: Michael Chang

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