(AFP via Getty Images)
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 in the US Open final to win his maiden grand slam title and rise to world number one for the first time.
Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face, rolling over before jumping up to offer a hug at the net to Ruud.
The electrifying Alcaraz, who thrilled fans over the two-week tournament in New York with his acrobatic shot-making, youthful vigour and late-night finishes, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.
Alcaraz is the youngest-ever world number one since ATP rankings began in 1973.
Relive a captivating men’s singles final:
1662939720Carlos Alcaraz wins the US OpenA brilliant performance by Carlos Alcaraz. A fully-deserved victory and he first grand slam of many. He only turned 19 years old in May and it has really felt like the coming of the next generation this fortnight at Flushing Meadows.
A word for Casper Ruud, who was brilliant and will be the new world No 2, but this is Alcaraz’s moment. Just brilliant.
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:42
1662939391Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 Casper Ruud – ALCARAZ WINS THE US OPENOk, here we go. This could be Alcaraz’s moment of destiny.
Perfect start with a 126mph ace – his 13th of the match. 15-0. Stunning forehand out wide, comes to the net and puts away the volley – he’s looked brilliant at the net in this match. 30-0 and he’s two points away.
Oh no! He’s missed a simple overhead smash. Finds the middle of the net and Ruud has the smallest glimmer of hope at 30-15.
What a response! Ace down the ‘T’ – 40-15 and TWO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS… Tries to win it all with a forehand but drifts long. First one SAVED!
Second Championship point… Huge serve, can’t be returned and he drops to the floor.
CARLOS ALCARAZ WINS THE US OPEN AND IS THE NEW WORLD NO 1
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:36
1662939281*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 5-3 Casper RuudRuud at least forces Alcaraz to serve it out. A straightforward love hold. Can the Spaniard now hold his nerve to become a rare teenage grand slam winner?
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:34
1662939049Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 5-2 Casper Ruud*Ruud not going down without a fight here. Takes the first two points, the second coming off a missed drop volley for Alcaraz to go 0-30.
Great battling from the Spaniard though and ace number 11 helps him fight to 30-30. Another ace! 40-30 and it’s game point, which he takes to move one game away from his maiden US Open title.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:30
1662938824*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 4-2 Casper Ruud – ALCARAZ BREAKSPerhaps a chance of a first break in this fourth set as Ruud leaves one short and Alcaraz puts the backhand away for 15-30. Goes wide on the next point though – 30-30.
BREAK POINT Alcaraz after superb defensive work forces Ruud to miss an overhead. And he takes it! Ruud goes long and ALCARAZ BREAKS! He’s just two points from US Open glory now.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:27
1662938463Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 3-2 Casper Ruud*Big serves aplenty for both men now, as Alcaraz opens up with his eighth ace and immediately bangs his ninth down the ‘T’. WOW! Make that 10 aces as he bangs a third in a row.
Finally misses one, then the second serve as well for a double fault but then we finally get a point involving open play, which Alcaraz wins for a hold to 15.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:21
1662938300*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 2-2 Casper RuudRuud digs out a volley on the first point but goes for too much on a forehand that follows. 15-15. Ooosh! Massive forehand winner by the Norwegian, unreturned serve and ace seals it to 15. He still means business.
We pass the three-hour mark for this match and there’s plenty of life left in it.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:18
1662938033Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 2-1 Casper Ruud*Ruud standing miles behind the baseline on the Alcaraz first serve. It doesn’t appear to be giving him any particular advantage as he slips to 0-30 before Alcaraz blasts one long down the middle after coming forward.
Makes up for it on the next point as he marmalises a forehand after a big serve and seals the game to 15 with an ace down the ‘T’
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:13
1662937879*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 1-1 Casper RuudSome lovely groundstrokes from Ruud and a sublime pick-up volley helps him move within one point of the hold, which he seals when Alcaraz finds the net. Hold to 15 and we’re at 1-1.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:11
1662937640Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 1-0 Casper Ruud*Phew! What a third set that was. How do both players reset and go again? It felt like if Alcaraz lost it, it could have been curtains but the way he came back from the brink may inspire him.
He’s in trouble early in his opening service game though as Ruud forces him on the defensive and moves to 0-30. Great forehand winner brings it closer and a serve-volley levels things at 30-30.
Marathon 21-shot rally ends with Ruud going wide and Alcaraz then seals the opening game.
*denotes next to serve
Luke Baker12 September 2022 00:07
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