US Open: Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud in four sets to win first Grand Slam and become new world No. 1 | Tennis News
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open on Sunday night to become the youngest man ever to be ranked No.
Alcaraz and his rival Casper Ruud went into the match with both bidding for their first Grand Slam title and top of the standings, and it was the 19-year-old who came out on top, winning 6 -4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Spaniard was a year younger than Lleyton Hewitt when he topped the charts in 2001.
“This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid,” Alcaraz said.
“All the hard work I’ve done with my team, with my family. I’m only 19 years old so a lot of the decisions are up to my team, my parents. It’s very special for me. with me.”
Alcaraz smiled, admitting he was “a little bit” tired, but said: “I always say it’s not time to get tired in the final round of a Grand Slam. You have to give everything on the court, everything you have. inside. “
Alcaraz, who rose to prominence by reaching the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows a year ago, showed that he is ready to take the biggest titles by lifting the Masters titles in Miami and Madrid, where he hit defeated Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to return, and has proven himself to be a complete player despite his immature years.
The match was played under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rainy day in New York and Alcaraz took the lead with a break in the third game.
Sporty Ruud gave his opponent a point after the umpire missed a brace, but Alcaraz didn’t really need help as he continued the first set.
He then forced a break point at 2-2 in the second set but Ruud saved it and gained momentum from there.
There were a number of full-field rallies that Alcaraz made a habit of this tournament, and one of them in the next game, Ruud made the breakthrough.
He then played four games in a row as Alcaraz’s energy dwindled. The teenager broke early in the third half but then returned serve with a weary-looking backhand into the net and for most of the rest of the inning, Alcaraz was suspended.
Ruud took home two set points 5-6 but Alcaraz bravely saved them both with a slot in the net, and he found the perfect timing to win the first tie-break of the tournament. , despite a lot of help from the competition.
Alcaraz is now steady again and the pressure finally paid off as he took a 4-2 lead in the fourth set before serving his historic victory.
The Spaniard became the youngest Grand Slam champion since Nadal won his first French Open 17 years ago and the youngest at the US Open since Pete Sampras in 1990. was the second youngest men’s final of the open era.
Ruud said: “It’s hard to explain everything but everything went very well. Today is a special day. Both Carlos and I know what is at stake.
“It’s nice that both finalists will be number two and number one. Of course I’m disappointed that I’m not number one but number two isn’t too bad and I’ll continue to chase my first Grand Slam title. mine.”
Hewett wins third US Open title: ‘It’s very gratifying’
His Alfie Hewett won his sixth Grand Slam title in wheelchair singles at the US Open to deny Japan’s Shingo Kunieda as the Grand Slam calendar.
Kunieda was looking to become the first man to win all four major singles titles in the same year but he fell short in a match as Hewett won 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.
It gave the Norfolk tennis player his third US Open title with three French Open titles, while he also won 15 doubles titles with Gordon Reid.
Hewett, who lost to Kunieda in the finals in Australia and at Wimbledon, said: “It’s gratifying.
“To have that epic match at Wimbledon, and then be so close and not over the limit, that definitely motivated me. I struggled with illness a little bit after that, but every day and every minute of every day I want to get back to the practice court for this, really.
“You could see that in the first set, especially, because I really wanted it. It calmed my feelings down a bit in the second set but it was great.
“I’m not a nasty person. I don’t really want to take it off him. I feel bad for him because he’s an incredible ambassador for our sport.
“It doesn’t happen often that you win three major titles in one year. He would have known it was his chance, but unfortunately today he was up against me. This was probably the matchup. The most terrifying thing I’ve ever participated in at a Grand Slam.”
Czech pair Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won her first doubles title and third major of the year, completing her career Grand Slam by rallying to beat American duo Caty McNally and Taylor Townsend 3-6 7-5 6-1.
They finished an undefeated Grand Slam season, winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles but did not compete at the French Open after Krejcikova tested positive for COVID-19.
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