Carlos Alcaraz matches historic Pete Sampras feat on hard court
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Alcaraz last lost a hard-court Grand Slam match to Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open.
Carlos Alcaraz has done something that hasn’t been done in over 30 years. The Spaniard, who is 23 years and 117 days old, became the youngest player to win 15 Grand Slam matches consecutively on hard courts since Pete Sampras in 1994, when Sampras was 23 years and 17 days old.
Alcaraz’s winning run actually started last year at the US Open, where he didn’t just win the title; he barely looked troubled doing it.
He beat USA’s Reilly Opelka, then Mattia Bellucci of Italy, followed by another Italian, Luciano Darderi, dropping only a few games along the way. Following that, he defeated Arthur Rinderknech of France and Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic before prevailing over Serbian legend Novak Djokovic in the semi-final. Versus Jannik Sinner of Italy, it wasn’t easy, but he pulled through in four sets: 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Alcaraz had injury scare
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What makes this streak even more monumental is what happened in between. Back in April, Alcaraz injured his right wrist during a contest in Barcelona, and he had to withdraw from the tournament.
That injury kept him out for four whole months, forcing him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as the big hard-court competitions in Montreal and Cincinnati that usually help players get ready for the US Open. For someone trying to keep a streak like this alive, missing four months is a long, scary wait.
But when he returned, nothing seemed to have changed. Alcaraz walked back onto the court at this year’s US Open with longer hair and a fresh look, and he beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin in straight sets — 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 — in a match that lasted just over a couple of hours. He’ll now play Jaime Faria of Portugal in the subsequent round.
The last time Alcaraz actually lost on a hard court at a Grand Slam was way back during the 2025 Australian Open, when Djokovic beat him in the quarterfinals. Since then, he has won two Grand Slam titles and is now off to a winning start in New York too.
What record did Carlos Alcaraz achieve at the 2026 US Open?
Alcaraz, at 23 years and 117 days old, became the youngest player to win 15 consecutive Grand Slam matches on hard courts since Pete Sampras in 1994 at 23 years and 17 days old.
How long was Carlos Alcaraz out due to injury before this year’s US Open?
Alcaraz was out for four months after suffering a right wrist injury at the ATP Barcelona event in April, causing him to miss the French Open, Wimbledon, and the hard-court tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati.
When did Carlos Alcaraz last lose a hard court match at a Grand Slam?
His last hard court loss at a Grand Slam came at the 2025 Australian Open, where Novak Djokovic beat him in four sets in the quarterfinals.
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