Carlos Alcaraz achieved another milestone in his fledgling career on Thursday after becoming the youngest man to reach the third round at Roland Garros in 29 years.

The Spanish world No. 97, who only turned 18 in June, defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the second round in Paris to follow in the footsteps of a 17-year-old Andrei Medvedev in 1992.

Alcaraz, who has already drawn comparisons with Rafael Nadal for the flying start to his professional career (and is doing little to dampen them with his choice of sleeveless shirt in Paris), has emulated his idol by becoming the youngest man to reach the third round at a Grand Slam since Nadal did so at the 2004 Australian Open.

But despite the achievements, Alcaraz, who faces German Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round, is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"It's good. Obviously it's good, the numbers, but I still focus on me," he said. "It means I'm going the right way. I am doing the right things, and I keep [trying to do] this. I'm still growing up as a player and as a person, and that's the important thing."

Alcaraz recorded his first ATP match-win in Rio De Janeiro last year while still aged 16, and won a match on his Grand Slam debut at February’s Australian Open, where he was the youngest man to qualify for the main draw since Novak Djokovic in 2005.

He has continued to impress on his favoured clay this week – dropping just 11 games in his three qualifying matches in Paris, before proving resilient in triumphs over fellow Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles and Basilashvili in the main draw.

Alcaraz is coached by 2003 Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, training at his eponymous academy in Valencia, and the youngster has been keen to praise the influence of the former world No. 1 for his swift development as a tennis player. 

“I’m very proud to have Juan Carlos as a coach,” said Alcaraz earlier this year. “He has great experience and knowledge and I’m very proud to be able to learn from him.

“He contributes to my knowledge in a way that other coaches probably wouldn’t be able to. He understands the situations that I’m living now, because he experienced them in the past. He knows how to manage the pressure.

“It's not easy for me to talk openly but I trust him, and I always try to tell him how I feel physically and mentally. If I have any problem, I can speak with him and he gives me his advice. He is very helpful.”

Alcaraz, who led Spain to the 2018 Junior Davis Cup title - just as his idol Nadal did in 2002 - is one of three teenagers through to the third round at Roland Garros along with Italians Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, who are leading something of an Italian renaissance in Paris.