Sunday, Sep 11, 2022. 7:35 PM
(Update : Sunday, Sep 11, 2022. 8:15 PM)
NEW YORK _ Carlos Alcaraz used his combination of determination and maturity to defeat Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 in the U.S. Open tennis final on Sunday and is became the youngest man to clinch the No. 1 in the world.
“I’ve been dreaming regarding this since I was a kid,” confessed Alcaraz, who some might still consider a kid. “I worked very, very hard for this. It’s hard to talk right now. I have a lot of emotions. »
The Spaniard was taking part in an eighth Grand Slam tournament and a second edition at Flushing Meadows. However, he was labeled as a follower of the three great tennis stars of the 21st century, namely Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“He’s one of his unique talents that comes up in the sport from time to time. He seems to be one of those, Ruud mentioned. We will see how his career develops, but everything is going in the right direction. »
He showed only moments of weakness despite winning three straight games in five sets to reach the final. A tour de force that had not been done in New York in the last 30 years.
Alcaraz made it to the final round once morest 2014 winner Marin Cilic in the fourth round. The duel ended at 2:23 a.m. On Tuesday, his quarter-final showdown once morest Jannik Sinner, which totaled five hours and 15 minutes, ended at 2:50 a.m. Finally, on Friday, in the semi-finals, Alcaraz had to save a match point once morest Frances Tiafoe.
“You have to leave everything on the court. You have to give everything you have in you. I worked very, very hard to get that, mentioned Alcaraz. Now is not the time to be tired. »
Alcaraz went down in the second set and faced two set points in the third set, then trailing 6-5. However, he erased the deficit and rode to victory.
Alcaraz won in three hours and 20 minutes. He shone with 14 aces, including three in the deciding game.
After his victory, he headed to the stands to hug his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world No. 1 player, who won the French Open in 2003 and reached the final at Flushing Meadows the same year.
He is the first 19-and-under player to win the U.S. Open since Pete Sampras in 1990 and the first to win a Grand Slam tournament since Nadal in 2005 at the French Open.
Another way to illustrate the youth of Alacaraz: The last man to win this tournament on his first or second appearance was Pancho Gonzalez in 1948, before professionals were allowed to participate.
A meeting with serious consequences
The winner of the duel was guaranteed to be first in Monday’s standings; the loser was certain to be second.
“Carlos and I knew what we were playing for. We knew what was at stake, asserted Ruud. I think it’s fair to say I’m disappointed, of course, not to be number 1, but being number 2 isn’t too bad either. »
To put the rankings into context, it’s worth knowing that Djokovic hasn’t played at Flushing Meadows or the Australian Open this year. He might not enter these countries because he is not vaccinated once morest COVID-19.
Despite his Wimbledon title, Djokovic did not receive any ranking points as the All England Club banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Whatever the circumstances, it is more than notable that Alcaraz is the first male player aged 19 and under to hold the top spot in the world rankings.
Nobody else did. Neither Nadal, nor Djokovic, nor Federer, nor Sampras. Nobody.
Ruud, also a rising star
Ruud, a 23-year-old Norwegian, is now 0-2 in Grand Slam finals. He was crowned vice-champion at Roland-Garros in June, due to a loss once morest Nadal in the final.
At least Ruud gets the prize for the best sportsmanship. He conceded a point he knew he didn’t deserve. That point came when he was trailing 4-3 in the first set: he rushed a drop shot that bounced twice before his racquet touched the ball.
The game continued, Alcaraz hesitated then missed his reply. However Ruud told the referee what had happened and conceded the point to Alcaraz, who, like the crowd, welcomed his opponent’s gesture.
His background in New York:
1er tour: bat Sebastian Baez (ARG) 7-5, 7-5, 2-0 (abandon)
2e tour: bat Federico Coria (ARG) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5
3e tour: bat Jenson Brooksby (USA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Round of 16: defeats Marin Cilic (CRO/seed No 15) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Quarter-finals: beat Jannik Sinner (ITA/N.11) 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (0/7), 7-5, 6-3
Semi-finals: beat Frances Tiafoe (USA/N.22) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3
Finale: bat Casper Ruud (NOR/N.5) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3
The last ten winners
2022: Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
2021: Daniil Medvedev (RUS)
2020: Dominic Thiem (AUT)
2019: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2018: Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2017: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2016: Stan Wawrinka (SUI)
2015: Novak Djokovic (SRB)
2014: Marin Cilic (CRO)
2013: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
The most successful players in US Open history:
1. Richard Sears (USA) 7 (1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887)
. William Larned (USA) 7 (1901, 1902, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911)
. Bill Tilden (USA) 7 (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1929)
4. Jimmy Connors (USA) 5 (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1983)
. Pete Sampras (USA) 5 (1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002)
. Roger Federer (SUI) 5 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)
7. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 4 (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)
. John McEnroe (USA) 4 (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984)
