Carlos Alcaraz has risen to the top of men’s tennis as the world’s youngest No. 1 at the age of 19 years and 129 days after winning his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022. Alcaraz pushes previous top spot holder Daniil Medvedev to No. 4.
The Spanish star is also the youngest player to win a major title since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open and the second youngest since Pete Sampras in 1990.
Alcaraz capped off an incredible journey by defeating Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 on Sunday to win his first career Grand Slam title in a three-hour and 20-minute marathon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“Well, this is something that I dreamed of since I was a kid,” said Alcaraz. “It’s something I worked really, really hard [for]. It’s tough to talk right now. A lot of emotions. “
I'm lost for words at right now! 🏆 I just want to keep dreaming!
📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/IyQXjvgamY
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 12, 2022
Sunday’s final
Prior to Sunday, the 23-year-old Rudd had never won a Grand Slam. He split the first two sets with Alcaraz. The Norwegian appeared to be on his way to a two-set victory in the third set. But after Ruud took a 6-5 lead, Alcaraz went all out. He came back to win the next game, tying the score at 6-6.
“He just played too good on those points. We’ve seen it many times before: He steps up when he needs to,” Ruud said. ‘When it’s close, he pulls out great shots.”
Seven of the final eight points were won by the 19-year-old, as were ten of the previous twelve points overall. Alcaraz exploded in the fourth set, winning four of the final five games to win the match after splitting the first four games. Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam by winning eight of the final eleven games.
“Both Carlos and I, we knew what we were playing for. We knew what was at stake,” Ruud, who won the tournament’s longest point, a 55-shot point in the semifinals on Friday, said.
“I think it’s fitting. I’m disappointed, of course, that I’m not No. 1, but No. 2 is not too bad, either.”
The World No. 1⃣ and 2⃣ in one picture. @usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/y0Mv7gmKa0
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 12, 2022
Alcaraz’s journey
Alcaraz’s previous best finish came earlier this year when he reached the 2022 French Open quarterfinals before losing to German player Alexander Zverev. Ruud reached a Grand Slam final for the second time this year, also making the 2022 French Open final.
“He’s one of these few rare talents that comes up every now and then in sports. That’s what it seems like,” said Ruud. “Let’s see how his career develops, but it’s going all in the right direction.”
Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarterfinals with a late-night victory over Croatian Marin Cilic, who won the US Open in 2014. On Tuesday, Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a marathon quarterfinal match that ended at 2:50 a.m. Alcaraz vanquished Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday, forcing a fifth set that lasted four hours and 19 minutes.
Therefore, the Spaniard had spent 20 hours and 20 minutes on the court prior to his match with Ruud and had played three consecutive five-setters. And he played in the tournament for a total of 23 hours and 40 minutes, the most by any men’s player in any major tournament since the beginning of 2000.
“I always say that there’s no time to be tired,” Alcaraz said in a post-press conference. “In the finals of the grand slam or any tournament. You have to give everything on court, you have to give anything you have inside. “