US Open: Alcaraz claims first grand-slam title

The Carlos Alcaraz era has begun.

At the age of 19, the supremely talented Spaniard won the US Open to become the new world No 1 and the youngest grand-slam men’s singles champion since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

Nadal’s French Open victory at the same age was a seminal moment for the sport, and it very much felt the same inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Sunday night.

Alcaraz repeatedly had a capacity crowd of 23,000 rising to their feet in salute of his scintillating shot-making during a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 victory over Norway’s Casper Ruud.

This is a significant breakthrough for a teenager who has the potential to dominate the ATP tour in the years to come.

A mental hurdle has been cleared by successfully coming through the first ever grand-slam final in which both players were competing for both a maiden major title and the world No 1 ranking.

It is probable that the floodgates have now opened.

Alcaraz did it the hard way. This fortnight he was in action for a total of 23 hours and 39 minutes, surpassing South Africa’s Kevin Anderson at Wimbledon 2018 for the most time spent on court at a grand slam since match durations were fully logged in 1999.

Another piece of history comes with his status as the youngest ever ATP world No 1, beating the record that Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt set at the age of 20 in 2001.

“This is something I dreamed of since I was a young kid,” Alcaraz said. “To be number one in the world, to be the champion of a grand slam.”

Given what was at stake in the match, it was understandable that both players were a little nervy in the early stages, saving break points in their respective opening service games. Alcaraz was the first to settle in the third game and swung freely with his returns to break for 2-1.

Credit must go to Ruud, 23, for an admirable moment of sportsmanship mid-way through the set when he admitted to a double bounce and conceded the point. The No 5 seed struggled, however, to handle the power coming from the opposite side of the net and some outstanding net play helped Alcaraz go on to claim the first set. Remarkably, Alcaraz has won at least one set in 65 consecutive matches, stretching back to the Paris Masters last November.

Alcaraz remained in control early in the second set but crucially failed to convert a break point at 2-2. This roused Ruud to claim his first break of serve in the next game for a 4-2 lead and suddenly he looked the more sprightly player as he completed a run of four straight games to level the match at one set all.

Alcaraz was gifted a break by Ruud in the first game of the third set, but he was clearly low on energy and some weary unforced errors handed it back for 2-2.

Ruud could not take full advantage, though, failing to convert two set points against serve at 6-5. Out of nowhere, Alcaraz suddenly stepped up on the attack in the tiebreak by winning seven straight points from 1-0 down to steal the set, sending his many supporters in the stands into raptures.

This lengthy 73-minute set had effectively decided the match. With a second wind behind him, Alcaraz was in full control and claimed a pivotal break for 4-2 in the fourth set. He served an unreturnable serve out wide on match point to secure victory before falling with his back to the court in disbelief at what he had just achieved.

“All the hard work I did with my team, my family, I’m just 19 years old so a lot of the decisions are with my team, my parents,” Alcaraz said. “It’s something that is very special for me.”