Top 5 Youngest Players to Win an ATP Tour Men's Singles Match

Tennis is a sport where incredible stories unfold. For every young player picking up a racket, the dream is the same — to win Grand Slam titles and one day defeat their heroes. While most players spend years working toward that goal, a few manage to make their mark much earlier.

Some teenagers burst onto the scene with such talent and composure that they immediately look like future legends. In this piece, we take a look at the youngest match winners — players who stunned the tennis world early and have either already reached the top or are well on their way to becoming the next big stars.

Youngest-Ever Match Winners in ATP Tour History

5. Carlos Alcaraz – 16 years (2020 Rio)

Carlos Alcaraz made his ATP main-draw debut in February 2020 at the Rio Open when he was just 16 years old. In an epic match that lasted three hours and 37 minutes, he stunned world No. 41 Albert Ramos Viñolas, becoming the first player born in 2003 to win a match on the ATP Tour.

Even before this breakthrough, the young Spaniard had already turned heads on the junior circuit and in Challenger events, earning impressive wins over rising stars like Jannik Sinner.

4. Ryan Harrison – 15 years, 11 months (2008 Houston)

In 2008, 15-year-old Ryan Harrison made headlines by becoming the 10th youngest player ever to win a main-draw match on the ATP Tour. Just shy of his 16th birthday, he stunned world No. 95 Pablo Cuevas in Houston, despite being ranked outside the top 1,000 at the time. Harrison, one of the top American juniors, had already shown promise by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open boys' tournament and earning a spot in the junior world top 10. Entering the tournament as a qualifier, he impressed everyone with his fearless play and composure against much more experienced opponents.

3. Rafael Nadal – 15 years, 10 months (2002 Mallorca)

Before Rafael Nadal earned the nickname “The King of Clay,” he tasted his first ATP victory at the 2002 Mallorca Open. At just 15 years and 10 months old, ranked No. 762 in the world, he impressed everyone by defeating world No. 81 Ramón Delgado on his home clay court.

Nadal was already known as a rising star, having won the prestigious junior tournament Les Petits As and several Spanish titles. That same year, he went on to claim nine ITF Futures titles and reached the semifinals at the Wimbledon juniors, finishing the year ranked No. 200 in the world—a clear sign of the greatness to come.

2. Tommy Ho – 15 years, 8 months (1992 Genoa)

Tommy Ho made a splash at the 1988 Rye Brook Open when he defeated Matt Anger, becoming the second youngest player to win an ATP main-draw match. Before turning pro, he had already built an impressive junior career, winning 17 U.S. national titles and two Orange Bowl championships. With this early success and his standout junior record, Tommy quickly established himself as one of the most exciting and promising young American tennis players of his time.

1. Franco Davín – 15 years, 1 month (1983 Buenos Aires)

At just 15 years and one month old, Franco Davín made history at the 1983 Buenos Aires tournament by defeating Hans Gildemeister, becoming the youngest player in the Open Era to win a main-draw match on the ATP Tour. Known for his grit and powerful groundstrokes, Davín was already a standout junior in Argentina. His early breakthrough on the pro tour hinted at the strong playing career to come—and later, he made an even bigger mark as a coach, guiding several players to Grand Slam titles.

Cover Credits - BBC