Top five youngest players to win men's singles title at Wimbledon in Open Era

Carlos Alcaraz won the Men’s Singles title at Wimbledon 2023 at the age of 20 years.

Carlos Alcaraz joined an elite list of players after winning the Wimbledon 2023 title, beating Novak Djokovic in the final on July 16, 2023. Alcaraz fought back from a set down to win his maiden Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam overall. The title at 20 years and 72 days made the Spaniard one of the youngest ever to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon.

He returned to the same scene a year later and successfully defended his crown against the same opponent to become a two-time Wimbledon champion. In the 2024 edition, Alcaraz beat Djokovic in straight sets in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. He was aged just 21 years and 70 days at the time of his second Wimbledon title win.

Winning the oldest and arguably the toughest tournament in the world at such a young age makes Alcaraz a player to watch out for the next decade or more.

In terms of young Wimbledon champions in the men’s singles category, Carlos Alcaraz ranks quite high. Here is a look at the five youngest winners of the Wimbledon in men’s singles category in the Open Era:

Jimmy Connors (1974) – 21 years, 307 days

Jimmy Connors won the 1974 edition of Wimbledon in the men’s singles category by defeating Ken Rosewall of Australia. At the time, the American was only 21 years and 307 days old. He turned pro in 1972 and retired in 1996.

A career that spanned more than two decades saw Jimmy Connors win eight Grand Slam titles. It included five US Open, two Wimbledon and one Australian Open title.  

Lleyton Hewitt (2002) – 21 years, 133 days

Lleyton Hewitt is regarded as one of the best tennis players ever from Australia. Back in his playing days, he became the youngest player to achieve the No. #1 rank in ATP at 20 years, 8 months and 26 days.

When Lleyton Hewitt won the Wimbledon men’s singles title in 2002, he was only 21 years, 133 days old. The Australian won only two Grand Slam titles in his career, with the US Open in 2001 being the other.

Also Read: List of ATP players to defend Wimbledon title in the Open era

Carlos Alcaraz (2023) – 20 years, 72 days

Carlos Alcaraz became the third youngest player to win the men’s singles title at the Wimbledon Championships after winning the 2023 edition. He also defended his title next season against the same opponent, Novak Djokovic.

He is already now a four-time Grand Slam winner and only getting better with each tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest player ever to hold the No. #1 rank in ATP Rankings for men’s singles. In fact, he is the first teenager to ever achieve the feat in Open Era.

Bjorn Borg (1976) – 20 years, 27 days

Bjorn Borg is the second youngest player in Wimbledon’s history to win the men’s singles category. The Swede beat Ilie Năstase of Romania in 1976 to win his first-ever Wimbledon title. He went on to win five consecutive titles including the 1976 triumph, dominating the tournament in style.

Bjorn Borg is considered one of the greatest tennis players in men’s tennis. He won 11 major titles in his glorious career.

Boris Becker (1985) – 17 years, 28 days

Boris Becker holds the record for being the youngest winner of the men’s singles category at the Wimbledon Championships. The German was only 17 years and 28 days old when he won the 1985 edition of the coveted Grand Slam.

Boris Becker beat Kevin Curren to win the 1985 edition and followed it up by winning the 1986 edition after besting legendary Ivan Lendl of the Czech Republic. In a long and illustrious career, Becker won six Grand Slam titles in the men’s singles category.

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