Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest top-five player since compatriot Rafael Nadal

KARACHI: After advancing to the Hamburg Open, Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz, who is 19-year-old, will become the youngest player to enter the top five of the ATP rankings since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Alcaraz defeated the Slovak Alex Molcan 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 and will compete for the championship on Sunday against Lorenzo Musetti.

The winner of the Miami Open and Madrid Open has prevailed in his previous five Tour finals.

"I have a lot of confidence for the final and hope to make it six-for-six," said Alcaraz after his latest clay win.

"Lorenzo is playing really well. It's going to be a great final."

When Nadal first rose to fifth in the world, he had less than a month till he turned 19 years old.

Alcaraz, who defeated Nadal in Madrid and has trained with the 22-time Grand Slam winner, is a tremendous fan of the player.

When the new rankings are revealed on Monday, he will surpass Casper Ruud of Norway.

Musetti, 20, defeated Francisco Cerundolo 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to advance to his first Tour final.

Following his first-round elimination at the Swedish Open, the world number 62 stated he was taken aback by the form that has earned him a match with the top seed in Hamburg.

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