NEW YORK: On a historic evening at the US Open, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz overcame Norway's Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 to clinch his first Grand Slam trophy and secure the No. 1 ATP Ranking.
With the world watching in a winner-takes-all final, the Spaniard hit with explosive power and demonstrated impressive touch around the net, winning 34/45 (76 per cent) of net points to outlast the Norwegian on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 19-year-old opened his shoulders, played aggressively and handled the pressure in the fourth set to earn his 51st tour-level win of the season after three hours and 20 minutes.
An emotional Alcaraz dropped to the floor following his historic victory as he received roars of support from the New York crowd. He then climbed up to his player box to embrace his team, including coach Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“It is something I have dreamt of since I was a kid. To be No. 1 in the world, to be champion of a Grand Slam, is something I have worked really, really hard [for],” Alcaraz said during the trophy ceremony. “It is tough to talk right now, I have lots of emotions. This is something I have tried to achieve. All the hard work I have done with my team and my family. I am just 19 years old, all the tough decisions have been with my parents and my team as well. It is something that is really special for me."
Alcaraz won three consecutive five-set matches to reach his first Grand Slam final, spending 20 hours and 19 minutes on court across six matches en route to the final. However, he showed little sign of tiredness to defeat Ruud.
“There is no time to be tired in the final rounds of a Grand Slam...You have to be ready and give everything you have inside. It is something I work really hard for," Alcaraz said.
The 19-year-old has become the youngest Grand Slam champion since countryman Rafael Nadal, 19, lifted the trophy at Roland Garros in 2005, while he is the youngest US Open titlist since Pete Sampras, 19, in 1990.
The 2021 Next Gen ATP Finals winner arrived at Flushing Meadows as the World No. 4. However, he leaves the hard-court major in top spot, becoming the youngest player to rise to the top of tennis’ mountain in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973).
AT 19 years and four months (as of 12 September), Alcaraz has beaten the record set by Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 years, nine months old when he attained the top ranking on 19 November 2001.
Alcaraz has also equalled the biggest jump to No. 1, while he is the fourth Spaniard to climb to the top, joining coach Ferrero, Carlos Moya and Nadal.
Alcaraz has now captured a Tour-leading five titles this season, including ATP Masters 1000 trophies in Miami and Madrid. The 19-year-old, who reached the last eight on debut in New York 12 months ago, qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals following his quarter-final win against Jannik Sinner earlier this week. He was the second player to book his spot in Turin after countryman Nadal.
(Courtesy ATP Tour)
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