Alcaraz wins US Open final |
19-year-old is the new number 1 in tennis
There has never been such a young tennis number one!
The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (19) has won his first Grand Slam title and has become the youngest world number one in history.
He prevailed in the final of the US Open in New York on Monday night once morest the Norwegian Casper Ruud (23) 6: 4, 2: 6, 7: 6 (7: 1), 6: 3 and was rewarded with it twice: Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam final and replaced the Russian Daniil Medvedev (26) as the leader of the world rankings.
The arena celebrated him with chants like: “Ole, Ole, Ole! Carlos!” Alcaraz kept heating up his viewers, asking them to sing louder.
Alcaraz at the award ceremony
The exceptional talent is also the first teenager since compatriot Rafael Nadal (36) in 2005 to triumph in a Grand Slam tournament. The last time there was a younger winner at the US Open was 32 years ago by the American Pete Sampras (51).
The Norwegian Casper Ruud (23) lost out once morest Alcaraz
Alcaraz received prize money of 2.6 million US dollars for the win. The defeated Ruud, who might have been the first Norwegian to win the Grand Slam tournament and be number one in the world rankings, can console himself with $ 1.3 million.
A minute’s silence was observed before the first serve at Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of around 24,000 spectators on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.
“It’s going to get on my nerves – and we’ll both feel it,” Ruud said before the match.
Both young stars actually started nervously, with Alcaraz suffering in the second set from the enormous strain of the previous six games with a total playing time of 20:19 hours. But the Spaniard successfully fought back.
Alcaraz following the win: “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of, being number one in the world and a champion at a Grand Slam. I’m having a hard time talking regarding it right now. I have many emotions.” (rgz, dpa)
