US Open: Carlos Alcaraz wins his first Grand Slam title



L’Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the US Open, his first grand slam title, on Sunday and became, at 19 years, 4 months and 6 days, the youngest world number one in history by beating Norwegian Casper Ruud 6- 4, 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3. Alcaraz, who was 4e world on arriving at Flushing Meadows, is the first player under the age of 20 to reach the top of the world hierarchy. Previously, the youngest number one was Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 years and 9 months old when he became number one on November 19, 2001.

Ruud (7th), 23 years old and who had played his first major final in June at Roland-Garros, will become number two on Monday. This final completes a hair-raising tournament for the Spaniard, who became the finalist having spent the most time on the court during a grand slam tournament with a total of 23:40. The previous record was held by South African Kevin Anderson, when he lost in the final at Wimbledon in 2018 after spending 11:20 p.m. on the court.

Spectacular points

In the first set, Alcaraz scored the break to lead 2-1 and held the advantage. Proof of the respect between the two gladiators, Ruud recognized that a ball had doubled in his court and thus gave the point to his opponent when he was trailing 4-3. While Alcaraz seemed to get their hands on the match, it was Ruud who dominated the second set by taking Alcaraz’s serve twice. The third set started with a break from Alcaraz, but Ruud recovered to come back at 2-2. At 4-4 and 30/30, the Spaniard finished prone “but on a foul – another phenomenal point, prompting a standing ovation that shook the walls of the Arthur-Ashe court.

READ ALSOCarlos Alcaraz, the natural successor of Rafael Nadal

Playing a very high level of play, the two men came to the tie-break. While he had lost the four tie-breaks played so far since the start of the tournament, Alcaraz this time clearly dominated this decisive game. In the fourth set, he took Ruud’s serve one last time to lead 4-2 and maintain his advantage until the final victory, converted on his second match point.

“60% of its potential”

If Carlos Alcaraz achieved the feat of becoming the youngest world number one in history on Sunday by winning the US Open, the 19-year-old Spaniard is still only at “60% of his potential”, according to his trainer, Juan Carlos Ferrero. “I think he’s at 60% of his potential. He can still improve a lot of things. He knows, and I know, that we have to keep working,” Ferrero said at a press conference.

“Once you’re number one, it’s not over. We have to keep working, playing at a very high level and winning. He knows it, I know it and I will always be close to him to remind him of it, ”insisted the former world number one who became a coach. “Carlos was born to play these kinds of matches, tournaments. He is a huge competitor. He’s still there, he’s still trying. He has shown it in these last matches, against Cilic, Sinner or Tiafoe (all beaten in five sets after endless arm wrestling, editor’s note), he never gives up, ”said Ferrero.

“I know his level. So this first grand slam victory may surprise people, but not me. I was pretty much convinced that if that title didn’t come this year, it would be next year,” he added. For his part, Rafael Nadal also praised his young successor: “Congratulations @carlosalcaraz for your first grand slam title and for your number one position, which is the culmination of your first great season. I’m sure there will be many more,” he wrote on Twitter.






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