Carlos Alcaraz has made history. The 19-year-old phenom won the US Open, beating Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 and will become the youngest player ever to rise to number 1 in the ATP rankings.
Alcaraz looked less sharp than in previous games, but that’s probably because he played three consecutive five-setters to make it to the final. Despite that, when he plays it’s like he’s been using video game cheat codes on his own, and Sunday was no exception.
But Ruud matched him shot for shot and found ways to beat him properly. That made for extremely entertaining tennis, arguably one of the best in the entire tournament, and that’s saying a lot given the phenomenal matches we’ve seen over the past two weeks.
The first set was tight, but Alcaraz had everything working. He had the right touch and the right plan to put Ruud in a hole early in the game.
Alcaraz claimed the first set, but Ruud turned everything around in the second set. He began to adapt and find ways to defeat Alcaraz. He froze Alcaraz after two games as he started stringing together games en route to a second set win.
In the second set, Alcaraz sometimes seemed to be running on fumes. He had used much more energy than Ruud in the past week. But not like that. Alcaraz wiped the slate clean in the third set. Every time it looked like he might be out, he regrouped and attacked. Ruud led 4-3, then Alcaraz tied the score. Ruud led 5-4 and Alcaraz tied the score again. He then averted two set points from Ruud to make it 6-6, before destroying him in the tiebreak.
Just one set away from the win, Alcaraz somehow turned on the jets and got energy from who knows where. He played every second of every shot and every point. He remained positive and clear, and his ability to shake off the misses and mistakes was incredible. Whatever happened, he continued to carry out his game plan. Even when he was knocked out by Ruud to narrow the gap to 5-3, he continued to advance. A game later, he claimed the title with incredible service.
After the final run was scored and his first party was over, Alcaraz began climbing the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium in search of his team. When he found them, they swallowed him in a huge embrace and he went on to have a moment with everyone in his box.
Alcaraz heralds a new star age
And it doesn’t stop there for Alcaraz. He is the youngest man to reach a Grand Slam final since Rafael Nadal in 2005, and the youngest to reach the US Open men’s singles final since Pete Sampras in 1990. Coincidentally, Nadal and Sampras won the Grand Slam at the age of 19. titles.
Alcaraz, who won four titles this year (and became the only player to beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in a clay court tournament), is part of a new generation of stars emerging as the time of the Big Three draws to a close. That’s what this US Open and this final was all about. Alcaraz confirmed his status as the most creative, exciting player on the men’s tour. Ruud emerged as a major threat after two Grand Slam finals this year. Frances Tiafoe showed that he has what it takes to compete with the best players in the game. Jannik Sinner is creative and precise, and it showed in his epic, record-setting match against Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
For Alcaraz, it all came together at the US Open. The disappointing losses of the French Open, where he was defeated in the quarter-finals by Zverev, and Wimbledon, where Sinner defeated him in the fourth round, were just memories, a learning experience that helped him get to where he is today. As a clay specialist, he was expected to take the lead at Roland Garros, but his early departure raised doubts. His loss there felt like the story of Alcaraz’s year had taken a wrong turn, like a book Choose Your Own Adventure.
But whatever anyone thinks or expects of Alcaraz, he is the only one in charge of his story. He creates his own story. And in the story Alcaraz wrote, he didn’t win his first major late. He won it just in time. And it feels like there are many more to come.
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