Alcaraz arrives as full-blown superstar

A year since breakthrough win, life on tour looks a lot different for Spaniard

When Carlos Alcaraz arrived at the Rio Open tournament compound last year, no screaming fans were waiting, his rivals did not see him as one of the favorites, his Instagram profile was followed overwhelmingly by Spaniards and he was still troubled by typical teenage spots on his face. He was the No 29 in the rankings in a socially distanced world due to COVID-19.

Fast-forward one year since he won his springboard title in Brazil.

The still baby-faced 19-year-old already knows what it is like to spend hours signing autographs and taking pictures, become the youngest men's No 1 in history, count millions of social media followers, and lift the US Open trophy — his first major title.