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Diahuebs 28 aPRiL 2022

Carlos Alcaraz youngest into ATP top 10 since Nadal in 2005

with three; his 23 match wins
Alcaraz rose two spots after are second behind only Ste-
winning the Barcelona Open fanos Tsitsipas, who has 24
on Sunday. He beat Pablo victories this season.
Carreño Busta 6-3, 6-2 in the
final. Novak Djokovic remained at
No. 1 after finishing as the
At 18 years, 11 months and runner-up to Andrey Rublev
20 days old, Alcaraz is the in the Serbia Open, with
ninth-youngest man to reach Daniil Medvedev still at No.
the top 10 since the computer 2, Alexander Zverev at No. 3
rankings began in 1973. His and Nadal at No. 4.
fellow Spaniard Nadal was
about a month younger when Nadal, owner of a men’s-re-
he climbed into the top 10 on cord 21 Grand Slam singles
April 25, 2005, after a title on championships, has been in
Barcelona’s clay. the top 10 every week since
he first got there.
The youngest man to crack
that elite level on the ATP The only changes in the
Tour was Aaron Krickstein, WTA top 10 involved Paula
who was 11 days past his 17th Badosa’s rise to a career-high
birthday when he made his No. 2, behind No. 1 Iga Swi-
debut in the top 10 in August atek. Badosa moved up one
1984. spot, switching places with
(AP) — Carlos Alcaraz a little more than a month break into the top 10 since 2021 French Open champi-
moved up to No. 9 in the before he turns 19, making Rafael Nadal did it exactly Alcaraz is tied with Nadal for on Barbora Krejcikova, who
ATP rankings on Monday, him the youngest man to 17 years ago. the most ATP titles in 2022 dropped to No. 3.

Goalie has Predators on verge of 8th straight playoff berth

(AP) — The Nashville son, starting more games each ally coachable and he’s a big ally matters in the room,” Added defenseman Mattias
Predators know only too successive year. Saros moved reason we are where we are Ekholm said. “He’s a huge Ekholm agrees: “I wouldn’t
well how good a goalten- ahead of Rinne in 2020-21, right now.” part of our team.” trade him for anyone.”
der Juuse Saros is after starting 14 games more than
trying to beat him in prac- the 2018 Vezina Trophy win- Saros lacks the size the 6--5
tice for years. ner who retired in July. Rinne brought to the net at
5-11 and 180 pounds. He
Now Pekka Rinne’s backup Saros was a big reason the makes up for that with speed
is one of the NHL’s best goal- Predators made a late run to and vision, able to move
ies in his own right and has the playoffs last season. After quickly across the crease.
Nashville on the verge of an returning in the middle of
eighth straight playoff berth March from an upper-body “He’s never out of position,
going into their home finale injury, he led the NHL over even cross-ice passes, he nev-
Tuesday night. his last 23 games with a .945 er struggles to get over there,”
save percentage with three Josi said. “He’s so quick with
Just as the Predators expect- shutouts down the stretch his movement and also with
ed. and had a career-high 21 vic- his mind, so I think that’s the
tories. one thing. He’s never really
“We all knew he was going to out of position.”
take over at some point,” cap- He tied for second in save
tain Roman Josi said. “Obvi- percentage (.927), tied for Predators forward Mikael
ously, last year was kind of a fifth with his three shutouts Granlund can’t recall the last
first year. He played a lot of and fourth with a 2.28 goals- time he beat Saros in practice,
games. He was awesome for against average and sixth in something that requires a bit
us. We all know how good he wins. He led NHL goalies of luck. Granlund says he’s
is. But obviously, he’s having with a .942 even-strength glad not to have to face some-
an unbelievable year. He’s save percentage. Saros tied one he’s seen in practice for
been our biggest key to suc- for sixth in voting for the years and skates with during
cess this year.” Vezina Trophy and 11th for the summer.
the Hart Trophy voting.
Saros is second to only Flor- “He doesn’t need to make
ida’s Sergei Bobrovsky for Coach John Hynes said Sa- splashy plays or anything
most wins with 38, and no- ros, now 27, has met the chal- because he’s persistent,”
body has started or played lenges that came with know- Granlund said. “He’s always
more than Saros with a ca- ing Nashville’s net was his there.”
reer-high 66 games this sea- this season. Saros is putting
son. He ranks eighth with a into practice lessons learned Saros, like the man he re-
save percentage of .920, has by watching Rinne by man- placed, is humble and speaks
four shutouts and played in aging himself from game to more with his stick, blocker
his first All-Star Game earlier game while dealing with the and pads. That doesn’t mean
this season. stress of being the starter. he’s shy. Ekholm says the
goalie isn’t afraid of sharing
The native of Forssa, Fin- “He’s been really consistent,” his opinions.
land, made his Nashville de- Hynes said. “He’s very con-
but with a start in the 2015- scientious of himself and his “What’s been good about him
16 season. He took over as game and how he’s feeling, this year I feel too he’s been
Rinne’s backup the next sea- but I also think he’s been re- more vocal and his voice re-