US Open: a teenager After defeating Casper Ruud in four sets in the New York final to win his first Grand Slam match, Carlos Alcaraz became the first adolescent to hold the No. 1 ranking in ATP rankings history.
HIGHLIGHTS
- At the US Open in 2022, Alcaraz earned his first Grand Slam title.
- Alcaraz won the men’s singles championship match against Casper Ruud in 4 sets.
- Alcaraz also became the first man born after Sampras in 1990 to win the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz, who won the US Open title on September 11 at the age of 19, provided a preview of what appears to be a dazzling tennis career. The Spanish teenager won his first Grand Slam championship in New York by defeating Casper Ruud in four sets in the final, capping off an incredible run.
With the US Open triumph, Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest since Rafael Nadal in 2005 (French Open) to win a Grand Slam title and the youngest since Pete Sampras in 1990 to win a Grand Slam title in men’s tennis.
It was a double delight for Alcaraz as the Spaniard also became the new No.1 in men’s singles tennis. Alcaraz and Ruud not just battled for the US Open crown but also for the numero uno spot after it was confirmed that Daniil Medvedev would vacate the spot after failing to defend his US Open title. There was plenty at stake for the two young men in New York on Sunday but Alcaraz showcased composure beyond his years to achieve glory.
Alcaraz, playing only in his second full season on the tour, scripted history as he became the youngest World No. 1 in men’s singles tennis. Since the start of the ATP rankings (in August 1973), no teenager had become the numero uno. Before Alcaraz, Lleyton Hewitt was the youngest World No. 1 in 2001 at 20 years and 9 months.
Alcaraz will be official No. 1 when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday
Alcaraz has certainly lived up to the hype in the 2022 season. While he had a stunning run on clay without being able to go the distance at the French Open, the Spaniard was shown the door early at Wimbledon 2022 by Jannik Sinner. However, Alcaraz battled back and avenged his defeat in London to the highly-rated Italian in a blockbuster quarter-final at US Open.
Alcaraz played as many as 3 five-setters en route to the semi-final, which also included the second longest match in the history of the US Open, saved a match point as he scripted a remarkable run in New York. In fact, Alcaraz became the first man since Stanislas Wawrinka in 2016 to win the US Open after saving a match point.
Alcaraz did not need five sets in the big final as he kept his composure even after failing to capitalise on a good start. Alcaraz won the opening set 6-4 but he allowed Casper Ruud to make a strong comeback and nearly go 2-1. Alcaraz needed a tie-breaker to go 2-1 up before he charged his way to a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 victory in the final.
