US Open final LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud to win maiden grand slam and become world No 1
Live updates from Flushing Meadows in New York as Alcaraz wins his first grand slam and rises to the top of the rankings
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Your support makes all the difference.Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 in the US Open final to win his maiden grand slam title and rise to world number one for the first time.
Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face, rolling over before jumping up to offer a hug at the net to Ruud.
The electrifying Alcaraz, who thrilled fans over the two-week tournament in New York with his acrobatic shot-making, youthful vigour and late-night finishes, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.
Alcaraz is the youngest-ever world number one since ATP rankings began in 1973.
Relive a captivating men’s singles final:
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Casper Ruud to win maiden grand slam title at US Open
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud to win his first grand slam title at the US Open and become the youngest man ever to be ranked world No 1.
Alcaraz and Ruud went into the match with both bidding for a first slam title and to top the rankings, and it was the Spanish teenager who came out on top, winning 6-4 2-6 7-6 (1) 6-3 in front of a jubilant crowd.
The 19-year-old is more than a year younger than Lleyton Hewitt was when he topped the standings in 2001.
The Australian’s pre-eminence in the sport proved short-lived as first Roger Federer and then Rafael Nadal ascended to the top of the game but, in the week where King Charles assumed sovereignty, tennis appears to have crowned a new king.
It is only a year since Alcaraz burst into the spotlight by reaching the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows but his talent was already well known within the sport and he has climbed the rankings at warp speed.
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Casper Ruud to win maiden grand slam title at US Open
Alcaraz clinched a 6-4 2-6 7-6 (1) 6-3 triumph at Flushing Meadows
Carlos Alcaraz wins the US Open
A brilliant performance by Carlos Alcaraz. A fully-deserved victory and he first grand slam of many. He only turned 19 years old in May and it has really felt like the coming of the next generation this fortnight at Flushing Meadows.
A word for Casper Ruud, who was brilliant and will be the new world No 2, but this is Alcaraz’s moment. Just brilliant.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 Casper Ruud - ALCARAZ WINS THE US OPEN
Ok, here we go. This could be Alcaraz’s moment of destiny.
Perfect start with a 126mph ace - his 13th of the match. 15-0. Stunning forehand out wide, comes to the net and puts away the volley - he’s looked brilliant at the net in this match. 30-0 and he’s two points away.
Oh no! He’s missed a simple overhead smash. Finds the middle of the net and Ruud has the smallest glimmer of hope at 30-15.
What a response! Ace down the ‘T’ - 40-15 and TWO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS... Tries to win it all with a forehand but drifts long. First one SAVED!
Second Championship point... Huge serve, can’t be returned and he drops to the floor.
CARLOS ALCARAZ WINS THE US OPEN AND IS THE NEW WORLD NO 1
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 5-3 Casper Ruud
Ruud at least forces Alcaraz to serve it out. A straightforward love hold. Can the Spaniard now hold his nerve to become a rare teenage grand slam winner?
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 5-2 Casper Ruud*
Ruud not going down without a fight here. Takes the first two points, the second coming off a missed drop volley for Alcaraz to go 0-30.
Great battling from the Spaniard though and ace number 11 helps him fight to 30-30. Another ace! 40-30 and it’s game point, which he takes to move one game away from his maiden US Open title.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 4-2 Casper Ruud - ALCARAZ BREAKS
Perhaps a chance of a first break in this fourth set as Ruud leaves one short and Alcaraz puts the backhand away for 15-30. Goes wide on the next point though - 30-30.
BREAK POINT Alcaraz after superb defensive work forces Ruud to miss an overhead. And he takes it! Ruud goes long and ALCARAZ BREAKS! He’s just two points from US Open glory now.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 3-2 Casper Ruud*
Big serves aplenty for both men now, as Alcaraz opens up with his eighth ace and immediately bangs his ninth down the ‘T’. WOW! Make that 10 aces as he bangs a third in a row.
Finally misses one, then the second serve as well for a double fault but then we finally get a point involving open play, which Alcaraz wins for a hold to 15.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 2-2 Casper Ruud
Ruud digs out a volley on the first point but goes for too much on a forehand that follows. 15-15. Ooosh! Massive forehand winner by the Norwegian, unreturned serve and ace seals it to 15. He still means business.
We pass the three-hour mark for this match and there’s plenty of life left in it.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 2-1 Casper Ruud*
Ruud standing miles behind the baseline on the Alcaraz first serve. It doesn’t appear to be giving him any particular advantage as he slips to 0-30 before Alcaraz blasts one long down the middle after coming forward.
Makes up for it on the next point as he marmalises a forehand after a big serve and seals the game to 15 with an ace down the ‘T’
*denotes next to serve
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