NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz is 19 going on 29. Or 39 even. When he's swinging his racket, he's every bit the teenager he is. His power is compelling, his speed around the court puts race cars to shade and his reserve appears bottomless.
Then, after wrapping up his third successive five-setter at the US Open, this one against home-hope Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals, the generosity of his expression was beyond his years. Alcaraz soaked in the moment, lying on his back a Grand Slam title and the world No. 1 ranking was within touching distance. He then pulled himself up and walked towards the American to congratulate him before directing the Arthur Ashe Stadium to give their man another round of cheers. He pointed at Tiafoe again and again, saying they had both left it all out there.
"I can see no. 1 in the world," said Alcaraz of the final against Casper Ruud, where the top spot in the ranking will be up for grabs, "but it's still far away… I gonna give it everything I have."
A victory for Alcaraz on Sunday will see the teenager become the youngest player to reach the world No. 1 ranking, pipping current record holder Lleyton Hewitt, who reached that pinnacle at the age of 20.
The Spaniard, who has won five career ATP titles, with four coming in 2022, including two Masters events at Madrid and Miami, only made his Grand Slam debut last year. "It's a final of a Grand Slam, fighting for the No. 1 in the world, something that I dream since I was a kid," Alcaraz said.
"I know Casper very well. We shared a lot of moments in the tournaments. He's a very nice guy off the court. I talk with him a lot. He's playing really, really well. I will have to show my best. "
The second semifinal, which had Michelle Obama leading the cheers for Tiafoe, also saw the Spaniard get fair appreciation, especially in the second and third sets when he appeared to break away. Hispanics make up some 28 percent of the city's population according to a community survey, logging the number at 2,287,905, which explains the support Alcaraz has been getting here. At one point of the semifinal, where he playing a popular American, the cheers appeared to be even, with the crowd chanting a soccer-style song of "Olé, Olé, Olé! Carlos!"
"The crowd is amazing. They love to watch great matches, the support is something special,"Alcaraz said of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the teenager's home away from home. Interestingly, some 19 years ago in 2003, Alcaraz's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero made the final of the US Open and went on to claim top the ranking.
"We have talked a lot about it. He beat Agassi in the semifinals to reach the No. 1 in the world here in the US Open," Alcaraz said. "He told me about how they prepare for that match. I am going to do the same, that is going for it. I'm going to enjoy the moment."
