Published on : 12/09/2022 – 02:08
At just 19, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open on Sunday once morest Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. He thus becomes the first player under the age of 20 to rise to the top of the world tennis hierarchy.
This is the advent of Carlos 1er: in the largest tennis arena in the world, the Arthur-Ashe court, Carlos Alcaraz became, Sunday, September 11 at 19 years old, the youngest N.1 in the world by winning theUS Open, his first Grand Slam tournament, at the expense of Norwegian Casper Ruud. The Spaniard won 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 in 3:20.
Fourth in the world on arriving at Flushing Meadows, he is the first player under 20 to reach the top of the world hierarchy. Previously, the youngest No.1 was Australian Lleyton Hewitt who was 20 years and 9 months old when he became No.1 on November 19, 2001.
Ruud (7th), 23 years old and who had played his first major final in June at Roland-Garros, will become N.2 on Monday. He might also become N.1 in the event of a title.
A thrilling tournament
This final completes a hair-raising tournament for the Spaniard who became the finalist who spent the most time on the court during a Grand Slam tournament with a total of 23:40. The previous record was held by South African Kevin Anderson when he lost in the final at Wimbledon in 2018 following spending 11:20 p.m. on the court.
Alcaraz displayed the full panoply of his talent, physical, tactical and tennis. But the renowned austere Norwegian was not left out to ensure the show. On several occasions, the nearly 24,000 spectators rose to deafening ovations for one or the other of the two players.
In the first set, Alcaraz scored the break to lead 2-1 and held the advantage. Proof of respect between the two gladiators, Ruud admitted that a ball had doubled in his camp and thus gave the point to his opponent when he was down 4-3.
While Alcaraz seemed to get their hands on the match, it was Ruud who dominated the second set by taking Alcaraz’s serve twice. The third set started with a break from Alcaraz, but Ruud recovered to come back at 2-2.
Spectacular points
At 4-4 and 30/30, the Spaniard finished flat on his stomach – but on a fault – another phenomenal point, provoking a standing ovation that shook the walls of the Arthur-Ashe court.
Playing a very high level of play, the two men arrived at the tie break. While he had lost the four tie breaks played so far since the start of the tournament, Alcaraz this time clearly dominated this decisive game.
In the fourth set, he took Ruud’s serve one last time to lead 4-2 and maintain his advantage until the final victory, converted on his second match point.
With AFP