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Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the US Open final. The 19-year-old Spaniard is the youngest number 1 in tennis. The Spaniard won the US Open in New York. In a spectacular final, the 19-year-old Norwegian defeated Casper Ruud 6:4 2:6 7:6 (7/1) 6:3.
With the second match ball, the game in New York was decided after 3:29 hours. In the world rankings, Alcaraz replaces the Russian Daniil Medvedev as number one. The new tennis hero received prize money of 2.6 million US dollars for winning the tournament.
Alcaraz replaces Australia's Lleyton Hewitt as the youngest number 1 in tennis history. The exceptional talent is the first teenager since compatriot Rafael Nadal in 2005 (French Open) to triumph in a Grand Slam tournament.
The last time there was a younger winner at the US Open was 32 years ago - Pete Sampras.
Carlos Alcaraz made tennis history on Monday night.
"It's crazy for me. I've never thought that I was going to achieve something like that at 19 years old.
So everything came so fast," Alcaraz said. "For me it's unbelievable. It's something I dreamed since I was a kid, since I started playing tennis. Of course, lifting this trophy today is amazing for me." In the second and third sets, Alcaraz struggled with the strains of the fourth Grand Slam tournament of the year.
In the previous six games, he had spent 20:19 hours on the court. The game was decided in the third set: Alcaraz fought back and played a fabulous tie-break. In the fourth set he was the better player.
Alcaraz had a difficult path to the title
"I always say that there is no time to be tired in the final round of a Grand Slam or any tournament," said Alcaraz, who spent 23 hours and 40 minutes on court over his seven matches.
"You have to give everything you have inside." Alcaraz is the youngest Grand Slam men’s champion since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open, and the youngest US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990. In the current world rankings, the Norwegian is second behind Ruud.
"We knew what we were playing for, we knew what was at stake," said Ruud. "Number two is not too bad either. I will continue to chase for my first Grand Slam and the number one world ranking."