Alcaraz is the youngest No. 1 in ATP history 1:36
(CNN)
-- Carlos Alcaraz ends the year as the youngest No. 1 in men's tennis history, after Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the ATP Finals.
At the age of 19 years and 214 days, US Open champion Alcaraz surpasses the record set by Lleyton Hewitt, who finished the year as world number 1 at 20 years and 275 days, in 2001.
Alcaraz will miss this year's ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, as he is recovering from an abdominal injury sustained at the Paris Masters earlier this month.
But his compatriot Nadal's early exit from the tournament gave him reason to celebrate anyway.
The teenager enjoyed a sensational year, winning five ATP titles and becoming the youngest No. 1 in men's tennis by winning his first Grand Slam title in New York.
"An important part of my life is also gone," says an emotional Rafael Nadal about Roger Federer's retirement
Nadal could have surpassed Alcaraz to the top of the world rankings with victory in Turin this week, but after losing 6-3, 6-4 to Felix Auger-Aliassime on Tuesday and Casper Ruud winning a set against Taylor Fritz, the 36-year-old player withdrew from the tournament.
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Carlos Alcaraz is champion and world number 1 2:34
Nadal has been struggling since the US Open in September and the loss to Auger-Aliassime was his fourth since 2009.
It comes after a straight sets loss to Taylor Fritz in Turin earlier this week and losses to Tommy Paul at the Paris Masters and Frances Tiafoe at the US Open.
"I don't think I have forgotten how to play tennis, how to be strong enough mentally," Nadal told reporters on Tuesday.
“I just need to get all these positive feelings back and all this confidence and all this strong mentality to be at the level that I want to be.
“I don't know if I'm going to reach that level again.
But what I have no doubt about is that [I am going to] die for it.”
Nadal had chances to take the lead against Auger-Aliassime, but was unable to convert four break points in the first set.
The Canadian advanced to 5-3 when he broke Nadal's serve and closed out the set shortly after to take an early lead.
In the second set, Auger-Aliassime broke Nadal 1-1, then consolidated his lead in the next game with three
straight
aces .
The world number 6 hit 15
aces
throughout the match and claimed victory in around two hours.
That means Auger-Aliassime remains in contention and will advance past the group stage at the ATP Finals despite losing to Ruud in their opener this Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz Rafael Nadal