Carlos Alcaraz wins US Open and takes world number one ranking
Carlos Alcaraz wins US Open and takes world number one ranking The 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, on his way to his first Grand Slam final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, shook hands with spectators leaning over the fence.
The chair umpire signaled for Alcaraz to return to the net for the customary pre-match photographs just as he was about to turn and race to the baseline for the warmup following the coin toss.
Alcaraz possesses an abundance of vitality and zeal, as well as great agility, speed, stamina, and courage. Finally, he won the U.S. Open and is the best male tennis player in the world.
Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud in four sets (6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3) on Sunday at Flushing Meadows, claiming the title and becoming the youngest player ever to top the ATP rankings thanks to his rare combination of moxie and maturity.
Declarations
“This is something I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a kid,” Alcaraz, some may still consider a youngster, added. I put a lot of time and effort into it” (for). It’s hard to communicate at the moment. Feelings are galore.
After rising to No. 4 this week, Alcaraz is sure to garner even more attention as the sport’s Next Big Thing after being dominated for decades by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer.
Every once in a while in sports, a player like him comes along. “That’s how it looks to me,” said Ruud, a 23-year-old Norwegian. Let’s see how the rest of his career unfolds, but so far, so good.
Choruses of “Olé, Olé, Olé! Carlos!” echoed off the arena’s closed roof as Alcaraz repeatedly encouraged the crowd to yell louder. At one point, Alcaraz lost with a laser of an on-the-run forehand that left him flat on his belly, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.
Alcaraz’s fourth-round match against 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic lasted five sets and ended at 2:23 a.m. Tuesday. His quarterfinal match against Jannik Sinner lasted five hours and fifteen minutes and ended at 2:50 a.m. Friday after Alcaraz saved a match point. Finally, Alcaraz’s semifinal match against Frances Tiafoe lasted five sets and ended at 2:23 a.m. Sunday.
Statements
“On the court, you must leave nothing to chance. There should be no holding back; every last bit of you should be used. I put in a lot of effort, and I feel like I deserve it,” Alcaraz remarked. No need to be exhausted now.
But getting there was no cakewalk.
Alcaraz was behind 2-0 in set points in the third game of the match after having already lost the second set. It might have been the turning point in the story.
He consistently demonstrated quick-reflex, soft-hand volleys that nullified Ruud’s set-point opportunities.
Alcaraz stormed to victory in the set’s tiebreaker thanks in large part to a string of miscues by a tense-looking Ruud.
For those specific points, he was simply too good of a player. He always comes through for us when we need him to,” Ruud remarked. When it’s tight, he makes clutch shots.
Alcaraz won the match in the only Grand Slam final in which both players were vying for their first major title and the top slot in the ATP’s computerized rankings, which date back to 1973. Alcaraz just needed one break to secure the victory.
Monday’s standings would have the winner at the top and the loser at the bottom.
Remarks
The stakes were high, but Carlos and I were prepared. Ruud, who was ranked seventh going into the U.S. Open, remarked, “We knew what was at risk.” To paraphrase, “I find it appropriate. Of course, I’m bummed that I’m not number one, but second place isn’t that bad.
He has now lost two Grand Slam finals, the most recent being the French Open in June, which he lost to Nadal.
When returning serves and throughout points on Sunday, Ruud stood well near the wall, much like Nadal, while Alcaraz attacked whenever possible.
Alcaraz attacked Ruud’s backhand, which was his less strong side, and won.
At the very least, Ruud deserves kudos for sportsmanship for giving up a point he had no business giving up. After falling behind 4-3 in the opening set, he sprinted to a short ball and made contact after it had bounced twice. The game went on with Alcaraz hesitating before responding poorly. After Ruud explained the situation to the chair umpire, he awarded Alcaraz the point; his opponent gave him a thumbs up and the audience cheered.
Alcaraz appears to be a once-in-a-generation talent, with an all-court game that combines a powerful groundstroke with an aggressive mentality. Out of his 45 points scored in the paint, he won 34 of them.
Mentions
Believe me, when I say that Ruud is no slouch. He won the longest point of the event in the semi-finals with 55 shots, and he is the youngest guy since Nadal to reach two major finals in the same season.
Yet here was Alcaraz’s chance to step into the spotlight.
To put things in perspective, he is the first teenager to win the U.S. Open since Pete Sampras in 1990 and the first to win in any Slam since Nadal at the 2005 French Open.
Despite winning Wimbledon, he received no ranking points because the All England Club banned athletes from Russia and Belarus in response to their invasion of Ukraine, so he did not receive any credit for his victory.
While still in tears, he went into the seats to embrace his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former No. 1 who won the French Open in 2003 and reached the final of that year’s U.S. Open.
Only once can you claim the top spot. You only get one chance to win your first Grand Slam. Several people believe that Alcaraz will continue to honor its heroes for many years to come.
READ more: Lakers News: Cavaliers Would Be Open To Reunion With LeBron James