section_path: Professional career/2024: Channel Slam, Olympic silver
section_name: 2024: Channel Slam, Olympic silver
paragraph_text: 2024: Channel Slam, Olympic silver
  
  Alcaraz began his 2024 campaign at Australian Open, making his furthest career run at the tournament by reaching the quarterfinals. He lost to the sixth seed Alexander Zverev in four sets.
  
  In February, Alcaraz entered the Argentina Open as the defending champion. He won his first two matches in straight sets before losing to Nicolás Jarry in the semifinal. He retired from the Rio Open the following week two games into his opening match after twisting his right ankle. He later announced that he had suffered a lateral sprain to his ankle, but said he would miss just "a few days" of training before Indian Wells.
  
  As defending champion in Indian Wells, Alcaraz came back into form. He dropped only one set, in his opening match against Matteo Arnaldi, to reach the semifinals. He next faced Jannik Sinner for an eighth career meeting, and defeated him in three sets to end Sinner's 19-match winning streak. Alcaraz then defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, earning him his first title in eight months. In Miami, where he aimed to complete the Sunshine Double, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set. However, he then lost to eventual finalist Grigor Dimitrov for a second consecutive time. Following the tournament, he dropped to world no. 3 after being overtaken by Jannik Sinner.
  
  Alcaraz experienced a shaky clay season. He withdrew from the Monte–Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, the latter as defending champion, due to a right forearm injury. In Madrid, where he was also defending champion, Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Andrey Rublev. He then withdrew from Rome due to the forearm injury.
  
  Alcaraz recovered in time to play the French Open in June. Despite some shaky early matches he reached the semi-final, where he defeated second seed Jannik Sinner in five sets to advance to his first Roland Garros final. His opponent there was fourth seed Alexander Zverev, whom Alcaraz defeated in five sets. At 21 years and 35 days, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in history to win a major title on three court surfaces, known as a Career Surface Slam.
  
  In July, Alcaraz defended his Wimbledon title by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets in a rematch of their 2023 final. At 21 years and 70 days, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete the Channel Slam (winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season).
  
  Alcaraz then entered the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics in both doubles and singles. Partnering Rafael Nadal, he reached the quarterfinals in doubles. In singles, Alcaraz reached the final without dropping a set. However, in the gold medal match, he lost to Djokovic in straight sets. He nonetheless became the youngest ever silver medalist in men's singles.
  
  Alcaraz skipped the 2024 Canadian Open, citing fatigue. He played at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, but was upset by Gaël Monfils in the opening round. This match marked the first time Alcaraz broke a racket on court, which generated significant media coverage and caused him to make a public apology. He next played the 2024 US Open, suffering a shocking second-round defeat in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp, his earliest loss in a major since Wimbledon 2021.
  
  Alcaraz recovered his form by successfully competing in team events at the group stage of the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup exhibition. Afterwards, he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final of the China Open. This was Alcaraz's third encounter with Sinner in 2024, and his third victory, snapping Sinner's 15-match win streak. With this win, Alcaraz reclaimed the world no. 2 ranking from Alexander Zverev. He also became the first player in ATP Tour history to win an ATP 500 singles title on every surface – clay, grass and hard court.
  
  Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters to Tomáš Macháč, and in the round of sixteen at the 2024 Paris Masters to Ugo Humbert. He was reportedly unwell during the 2024 ATP Finals but did not withdraw, beating Andrey Rublev but losing to Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in straight sets to exit the tournament in the round robin stage. Alcaraz reunited with the Spanish Davis Cup team in Málaga for the quarterfinals. They were knocked out by the Netherlands, sending Rafael Nadal into retirement. Alcaraz became the first man to finish the year ranked as low as world no. 3 after winning two majors that season.
  
  Alcaraz began his 2024 campaign at Australian Open, making his furthest career run at the tournament by reaching the quarterfinals. He lost to the sixth seed Alexander Zverev in four sets.
  
  In February, Alcaraz entered the Argentina Open as the defending champion. He won his first two matches in straight sets before losing to Nicolás Jarry in the semifinal. He retired from the Rio Open the following week two games into his opening match after twisting his right ankle. He later announced that he had suffered a lateral sprain to his ankle, but said he would miss just "a few days" of training before Indian Wells.
  
  As defending champion in Indian Wells, Alcaraz came back into form. He dropped only one set, in his opening match against Matteo Arnaldi, to reach the semifinals. He next faced Jannik Sinner for an eighth career meeting, and defeated him in three sets to end Sinner's 19-match winning streak. Alcaraz then defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, earning him his first title in eight months. In Miami, where he aimed to complete the Sunshine Double, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set. However, he then lost to eventual finalist Grigor Dimitrov for a second consecutive time. Following the tournament, he dropped to world no. 3 after being overtaken by Jannik Sinner.
  
  Alcaraz experienced a shaky clay season. He withdrew from the Monte–Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open, the latter as defending champion, due to a right forearm injury. In Madrid, where he was also defending champion, Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Andrey Rublev. He then withdrew from Rome due to the forearm injury.
  
  Alcaraz recovered in time to play the French Open in June. Despite some shaky early matches he reached the semi-final, where he defeated second seed Jannik Sinner in five sets to advance to his first Roland Garros final. His opponent there was fourth seed Alexander Zverev, whom Alcaraz defeated in five sets. At 21 years and 35 days, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in history to win a major title on three court surfaces, known as a Career Surface Slam.
  
  In July, Alcaraz defended his Wimbledon title by defeating Novak Djokovic in straight sets in a rematch of their 2023 final. At 21 years and 70 days, Alcaraz became the youngest male player in the Open Era to complete the Channel Slam (winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season).
  
  Alcaraz then entered the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics in both doubles and singles. Partnering Rafael Nadal, he reached the quarterfinals in doubles. In singles, Alcaraz reached the final without dropping a set. However, in the gold medal match, he lost to Djokovic in straight sets. He nonetheless became the youngest ever silver medalist in men's singles.
  
  Alcaraz skipped the 2024 Canadian Open, citing fatigue. He played at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, but was upset by Gaël Monfils in the opening round. This match marked the first time Alcaraz broke a racket on court, which generated significant media coverage and caused him to make a public apology. He next played the 2024 US Open, suffering a shocking second-round defeat in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp, his earliest loss in a major since Wimbledon 2021.
  
  Alcaraz recovered his form by successfully competing in team events at the group stage of the Davis Cup and the Laver Cup exhibition. Afterwards, he defeated Jannik Sinner in the final of the China Open. This was Alcaraz's third encounter with Sinner in 2024, and his third victory, snapping Sinner's 15-match win streak. With this win, Alcaraz reclaimed the world no. 2 ranking from Alexander Zverev. He also became the first player in ATP Tour history to win an ATP 500 singles title on every surface – clay, grass and hard court.
  
  Alcaraz lost in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters to Tomáš Macháč, and in the round of sixteen at the 2024 Paris Masters to Ugo Humbert. He was reportedly unwell during the 2024 ATP Finals but did not withdraw, beating Andrey Rublev but losing to Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in straight sets to exit the tournament in the round robin stage. Alcaraz reunited with the Spanish Davis Cup team in Málaga for the quarterfinals. They were knocked out by the Netherlands, sending Rafael Nadal into retirement. Alcaraz became the first man to finish the year ranked as low as world no. 3 after winning two majors that season.