Two weeks in the past, Pablo Llamas Ruiz grew to become the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP Challenger Tour title since an 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz triumphed in 2021. How did Llamas Ruiz study of that statistic? From the World No. 1 himself.

“I had no concept till Carlitos despatched me the [Instagram] hyperlink and congratulated me,” Llamas Ruiz stated in Spanish to ATPTour.com. “I clicked on the hyperlink and thought, ‘Unbelievable’. It is one thing I completely did not count on, and it is given me much more enthusiasm to maintain working.”

Llamas Ruiz, 20, was enjoying simply his tenth Challenger occasion of the 12 months in Segovia, the place he saved three match factors within the semi-finals earlier than being topped champion the subsequent day. The #NextGenATP star’s speedy rise is just fueling his hearth.

“It was one thing that I by no means anticipated, that I might win my first Challenger title on arduous courts, it is unbelievable,” Llamas Ruiz stated. “I am so, so completely happy to win the title. I wish to preserve successful, preserve coaching. I must suppose that it is only one title as a result of if I believe, ‘Oh, I gained a Challenger, I will not work extra’, that is dangerous for you.”

As if he wanted any extra inspiration to proceed his climb, the Spaniard can look to his good friend and up to date Wimbledon champion Alcaraz, who gained 4 Challenger titles earlier than ascending to the largest phases of the game.

“Seeing that simply two years in the past he was successful Challengers and now he is the World No. 1 is absolutely inspiring,” Llamas Ruiz stated. “Everybody has their very own path, however I do know I may be there too, I simply must preserve working. I imagine I can obtain it, that I can compete in opposition to the perfect.”

Each aged 20, Alcaraz and Llamas Ruiz have fond recollections collectively. In 2018, they clinched the junior Davis Cup in a decisive doubles rubber, lifting Spain previous France 2-1 to win the trophy in Budapest. Llamas Ruiz, who prefers to be known as, ‘Llamas’ as a result of there are ‘loads of Pablos’, recalled that he and Alcaraz would usually do what teenage boys get pleasure from: joking, dancing and singing collectively.

“We had been so, so completely happy on courtroom. I bear in mind I performed with him and nearly each level, we had been laughing,” Llamas Ruiz stated. “That is an expertise that I had with him and now he is No. 1 of the world. It was unbelievable. I bear in mind the purpose we gained to win the junior Davis Cup, I completed with an ace and we had been so, so completely happy.

“I might like to play with him once more on the ATP Tour. I hope for that, I would like that and I really feel like he needs it too. So if I am going up a bit of bit extra, then I’ll attempt to play with him.”

Earlier than ‘Llamas’ ascends to the ATP Tour, he’ll proceed to develop his numerous recreation on the ATP Challenger Tour. A easy man at coronary heart, the Spaniard has loved maintaining tabs with Alcaraz, who can be following Llamas Ruiz’s journey.

“Recently, I have been speaking extra with Carlitos. Once I gained the Challenger title, my mates requested me, ‘Has Carlitos congratulated you?’” Llamas Ruiz stated. “It was fairly shocking that he despatched me the hyperlink, gave me encouragement, instructed me to maintain working, and stated he was actually completely happy for me. It crammed me with satisfaction, ‘The World No. 1 is saying this stuff to me!’

“It is a pleasure to have that friendship with him. Typically when individuals obtain loads of success and rise to the highest, they overlook what’s behind them. It is very nice to see that Carlitos hasn’t forgotten that, he is an ideal individual.”

At a career-high No. 146 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, Llamas Ruiz will subsequent goal to qualify for his maiden Grand Slam most important draw on the US Open, the place countryman Alcaraz claimed his first main title final 12 months.

Pablo Llamas Ruiz wins the Open Castilla y Leon in Segovia.” />
^{Pablo Llamas Ruiz wins the Open Castilla y Leon in Segovia. Credit score: Alberto Simon}

-Reporting contributed by Guido Molteni