US Open
Duel for number one: Alcaraz follows Ruud into the final
Carlos Alcaraz prevailed in the semifinals of the US Open. photo
© Matt Rourke/AP/dpa
The young Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz fights against the Norwegian Casper Ruud for the title and number one in the world rankings in the final of the US Open in New York.
The young Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz fights against the Norwegian Casper Ruud for the title and number one in the world rankings in the final of the US Open in New York.
The 19-year-old Alcaraz won his gripping semi-final against the American crowd favorite Frances Tiafoe 6: 7 (6: 8), 6: 3, 6: 1, 6: 7 (5: 7) and 6: 3.
The winner of the final on Sunday (10 p.m. CEST / Eurosport) not only won his first Grand Slam title, but also replaced the dethroned defending champion Daniil Medvedev from Russia as the leader in the world rankings.
Alcaraz is the youngest US Open finalist since 1990 when USA’s Pete Sampras lifted the trophy aged 19 years and 28 days. The Spaniard did not notice the 5:15 hour marathon two days earlier in the quarter-finals against the Italian Jannik Sinner – on the contrary: After the narrowly lost first set, Alcaraz really turned on and deservedly entered his first Grand Slam final .
Tiafoe, who was also cheered on by former First Lady Michelle Obama at Arthur Ashe Stadium, experienced an inexplicable dip in performance in between. The Americans have to wait for the first Grand Slam title for men since 2003 (Andy Roddick). Tiafoe could at least console himself with a US Open record: he was the first professional in history to end the tournament with a flawless tie-break record of 8:0.
Ruud as the first Norwegian in the final
Ruud (23) had previously secured his final ticket with a 7: 6 (7: 5), 6: 2, 5: 7 and 6: 2 against the Russian Karen Khachanov. The French Open finalist also kept the chance to become the new number one in the world rankings after the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
“I’m so happy,” said Ruud afterwards: “We were both a bit nervous at first, luckily I won the first set. I played phenomenally in the second and fourth.”
The final will take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday. Already on Saturday (10:00 p.m. CEST/Eurosport), the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur from Tunisia will be fighting for the title in the women’s final.