Relentless Alcaraz, 19, tops Casper Ruud to win gruelling US Open tournament and become youngest World No. 1
NEW YORK: Champions are copious, but once in a while there comes a player, who alters the dynamics of the sport. In these past years, Roger Federer's artistry, Rafael Nadal's unbending steel and Novak Djokovic's elasticity - mental and physical - redefined greatness in men's tennis.
Then, just when it was brimming, Carlos Alcaraz came up with more, showcasing his physicality - brute power and unbounded athleticism - in a performance that blurred the lines between the present and the future. The 19-year-old Spaniard became the youngest world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings while claiming his maiden major title at the US Open.
Alcaraz overpowered Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3 in the winner-takes-it-all final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, leaving the 23-year-old Norwegian with the runner-up plate and the No. 2 ranking.
It was first Grand Slam men's final featuring two players competing for their first major title and the world No. 1 ranking, there might've been nerves early in the contest, but once they got going, it was a dizzying highway chase. Alcaraz, 6ft, who pulled off three successive five-setters to make the title round at Flushing Meadows, is a stirring sight in full flight. His play, like his personality, is explosive. It's all about expression.
He covers the court not like a man in a hurry, but like one who has all the time in the world, knowing that his wheels can get him there. And when drawn wide, especially on the forehand side, he opens his shoulders, stretching and stinging. Alcaraz hits through the ball, punctuating play with his aggression.
In the US Open final, his serve matched his strokes in weight of shot, in its power and glory, but the beauty in the Spaniard's play is in its poise, its featherlight touch. His ability to push opponents so far deep down the other end and then caress the ball, leaving them hopelessly short. Against Ruud, he won 34 of 45 points at the net.
The world No. 1's tennis is so cutting edge, it's almost cruel. Out-of-your-seat thrilling.
"I volley well. It is something that I try to use to my favour," a smiling Alcaraz said. "I was serving well. I did serve and volley a lot because I was really nervous. I thought at that point, at the baseline, Casper had more chances to win the point than me. That's why I use the net more."
New York may have woken up to a dank, dismal day, but the mood around the grounds was a stark contrast on a full moon night. The roof over the Arthur Ashe Stadium accentuated the support for Alcaraz in the title match. It appeared like every Spanish-speaking person in the Big Apple, and there are over two million of them, had turned up to watch the teenager they call 'Carlitos', raising chants of 'ole ole, ole'.
"It means a lot to me to have a lot of people supporting me here in New York," the 19-year-old said. "There were a lot of tough matches for me, they were believing in me, supporting me. I finished the match against Jannik (Sinner) at almost 3am and they were there supporting me until the last ball. This trophy is for them, as well. Maybe if I hadn't had them supporting me all the time, I couldn't have this trophy today. "Alcaraz - soft hands and fast feet - underlined that this is just the beginning. "I'm hungry for more. I want to be in the top for many, many weeks, hopefully many years," he said. "I'm going to work hard after these amazing two weeks. I'm going to fight to have more of this."
