From baby-faced prodigy to conqueror, Alcaraz sets sights on Grand Slam glory

In a year of memorable firsts for Carlos Alcaraz, the 19-year-old Spaniard has transformed himself from being just another fresh face with immense potential to a genuine threat on the men's tour and a favourite for the French Open.

His meteoric rise in 12 months was underlined by becoming the youngest ATP 500 champion in history at 18 and the youngest player to beat both Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the same claycourt event.

Last year, Alcaraz celebrated his 18th birthday with a match against his idol Nadal in Madrid but the dream scenario quickly turned into a nightmare when the 13-time French Open champion dismantled him 6-1 6-2 in just 78 minutes.

But this year, Alcaraz was better prepared and the change was evident as the teenager proved to be physically stronger and displayed maturity beyond his years in decisive moments.

He marked his 19th birthday in a whirlwind week in Madrid by beating three of the top five - Nadal, Djokovic and Alexander Zverev - en route to his second Masters title despite a sore ankle.

"I saw that the last time a player beat the top four players in a row in three matches was (David) Nalbandian in 2007. Of course it (gives) me a lot of confidence," Alcaraz said.

This feat, however, seems more like a sign of things to come rather than a blip on the men's tour.

WORLD NUMBER SIX

Ranked 120th a year ago, Alcaraz is now number six in the world, one rung below Nadal ahead of the French Open - the first Grand Slam Nadal won in 2005 when he was the hungry 19-year-old turning heads on the tour.

The comparisons drawn between the two Spaniards were inevitable when Alcaraz started dominating on clay before he went on to tame the hardcourts during the U.S. swing earlier this year.

Nadal may not be ready to pass