'Playing perfectly' - how does Carlos Alcaraz rank vs tennis legends at 22?
When Carlos Alcaraz won his sixth Grand Slam title on Sunday, he did so by thoroughly outclassing the world's number one player in probably the best performance of his career so far.
Defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner - whose record on hard courts over the past two seasons is among the most imperious of any player on any surface in tennis history - was induced into a timid display in which he was overawed by the Spaniard.
The quality of Alcaraz's performance in his 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory led to an existential crisis in Sinner, who insisted afterwards that he needs to revamp his game to match Alcaraz's level.
For his part, Alcaraz believes he is reaching new heights.
I played perfectly, he said after lifting the trophy. This is the best tournament so far that I have ever played. The consistency of my level has been really, really high - it's something I've been working on.
At age 22, Alcaraz is already discussed among the sport's greatest ever players. But just how well does he rank against them so far?
BBC Sport has examined how he compares against the men's game's legends at the same stage in their careers.
Speed and surface mastery put Alcaraz on a pedestal already
Since Alcaraz joined the ATP Tour as a 16-year-old, he has been lauded for the variety of his play, blending his assets to regularly catch his opponents off guard.
His remarkable ability to play at a high level across different surfaces sets him apart, having won two Grand Slams on hard, grass, and clay. Only a few legends like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have matched this accomplishment at his age.
With an astonishing record of six Grand Slam titles garnered in only 18 tournaments, Alcaraz's pace rivals that of tennis history's greats.
He won his first title in New York in 2022, and if he maintains his trajectory, he could approach Djokovic's record of 24 titles by 2034.
Serve supremacy takes the game to a new level
Alcaraz has enhanced his already formidable serve, contributing significantly to his recent success. Against Sinner, he recorded ten aces, increasing his serve speed impressively throughout the tournament.
His win percentage on both first and second serves surpassed that of any other competitor, showcasing his dominance and skill.
How could Alcaraz improve from here?
Despite his outstanding achievements, Alcaraz believes he has room for growth, indicating that the best is yet to come from him.
He aims to refine his game further, potentially eliminating momentary lapses in performance that could hinder his success in high-stakes matches.
As fans around the world watch, they remain curious to see if Alcaraz will be acknowledged as one of tennis's all-time greats by the end of his career.
