Carlos Alcaraz reached yet another milestone in his young career as he recorded his 100th top-level win and he did so in fewer matches than the Big Three of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, although he is second fastest in terms of the all-time record.
The reigning US Open champion booked his place in the last-16 of the Indian Wells Open with a solid 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor to hit the magical 100-career match win mark.
World No 36 Griekspoor was no pushover as there were no breaks of serve in the opening set before the top seed edged the tie-breaker.
Alcaraz then took charge of the second set early on as he broke in game two, but the Dutchman refused to give up the fight as he saved a match point on his serve in game eight before the teenager served out the match for his 100th win.
His latest milestone came in just 132 matches – one slower than record-holder John McEnroe, but he did achieve the feat in fewer matches than Nadal (137), Djokovic (143) and Federer (169).
“I’m really proud to get my 100th win on the ATP Tour and I hope it’s the first 100 of many,” Alcaraz said. “Honestly, I searched that stat today, [but] I didn’t know. I thought it was in the next round.”
Alcaraz is probably not in fundi in studying stats - but in everything else he is a tennis wizard - he really is a special tennis player. I saw him and Rublev playing a training match in Indian Wells and what I saw was a tennis performance in hard hitting unequaled in tennis history.