US Open final LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud to win maiden grand slam and become world No 1
Live updates from Flushing Meadows in New York as Alcaraz wins his first grand slam and rises to the top of the rankings
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Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 in the US Open final to win his maiden grand slam title and rise to world number one for the first time.
Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face, rolling over before jumping up to offer a hug at the net to Ruud.
The electrifying Alcaraz, who thrilled fans over the two-week tournament in New York with his acrobatic shot-making, youthful vigour and late-night finishes, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.
Alcaraz is the youngest-ever world number one since ATP rankings began in 1973.
Relive a captivating men’s singles final:
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 1-0 Casper Ruud*
Phew! What a third set that was. How do both players reset and go again? It felt like if Alcaraz lost it, it could have been curtains but the way he came back from the brink may inspire him.
He’s in trouble early in his opening service game though as Ruud forces him on the defensive and moves to 0-30. Great forehand winner brings it closer and a serve-volley levels things at 30-30.
Marathon 21-shot rally ends with Ruud going wide and Alcaraz then seals the opening game.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1) Casper Ruud - ALCARAZ WINS THE THIRD SET
Oof, first-point ace for 1-0 Ruud, although he then shanks a backhand to level things up and can’t find a forehand on the next point. He can’t find his rhythm as another spooned backhand means it’s 3-1 Alcaraz...
Oh dear, the Norweigan had lost this here, wild again for 4-1 - double mini-break - and it’s consolidated with a thunderous forehand winner. 5-1 at the change of ends.
Then it’s 6-1 and that’s FIVE SET POINTS for Alcaraz. What a time for Ruud’s level to completely fall off a cliff... It was never really in doubt and he does it at the first time of asking. After 73 minutes, Alcaraz takes it!
ALCARAZ WINS THE THIRD SET.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 6-6 Casper Ruud*
The pair trade the first two points of this crucial game before a Ruud forehand finds the net off an Alcaraz first serve. Ooh, that’s an ugly attempted forehand that spoons well wide from the Spaniard. 30-30.
BRILLIANT BY RUUD! A stunning forehand down the line is too good for his opponent and that’s SET POINT! Alcaraz finds the first serve, looks in control but a brilliant Ruud attempted pass looks good until a stretch forehand volley finds open court and sees him SAVE it.
Alcaraz moves to game point but an absurd forehand is whipped over the high point of the net to bring up another deuce. Alcaraz into the net and a put-away volley brings up another game point but a forehand sprayed wide. Deuce number three.
OH MY! Cross-court forehand from out of this world off the serve, clean winner for Ruud and it’s a second SET POINT! Serve and volley, with a finishing overhead means another one SAVED though!
Backhand behind Ruud moves Alcaraz a point away but a backhand is netted. A fifth deuce... This game is approaching 10 minutes now. Ruud nets, yet another chance for the Spaniard to force a tiebreak and this time he takes it! Hot-dog attempt from a retreating Ruud only leads to an overhead Alcaraz winner. Good Lord, what a game! We’re heading to a tiebreak.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 5-6 Casper Ruud
Great net play from both men at close-quarters. Incredible reactions and adjustments. A net flick helps Ruud and he can put away the next volley. 15-0 and he follows up with a first ace of the match for 30-0. Not a bad time for it...
Alcaraz then goes long before another big serves sets up victory on game point and now Alcaraz must answer the question again at 5-6.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 5-5 Casper Ruud*
You sense both players know how important this set is. Ruud lands the first blow to go 0-15 but Alcaraz fights back and gets the crowd into it as he moves to 40-15.
Ruud misses a makeable forehand as he clips the net, sending the ball spinning wide and the Spaniard levels back up. The pressure swings back to Ruud.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 4-5 Casper Ruud
It still feels like Ruud has the momentum. His service games doesn’t seem quite as much of a grind for him as Alcaraz’s are for the Spaniard. But Alcaraz is still hanging in there! Down 30-0, he moves Ruud about and finishes the point with a volley that gets the crowd involved. And then gives more fist pumps as he makes it 30-30.
Magic point and it ends with Alcaraz sprawled on the floor! Both men pulling out all the stops in the longest rally of the match (17 shots), incredible athleticism and Ruud eventually does enough. 40-30, game point but Alcaraz wins the next for deuce. The crowd are fully behind the Spaniard here!
Wrong shot selection from Alcaraz means advantage Ruud and a service winner hands him the game. HE’ll have a free shot at Alcaraz’s serve for the set.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 4-4 Casper Ruud*
Long rally on the opening point but a lovely backhand floated slice from Ruud curls just in for 0-15. An unforced Alcaraz error after poor footwork later makes it 15-30. That’s fabulous though! Serve to the body followed up by a crushing forehand - clean winner. 30-30.
A big “VAMOS” and fist pump when he finds a first serve and Ruud nets to bring up game point which he seals in a similar manner and there’s a similar reaction. Important hold.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 3-4 Casper Ruud
Into the business end of this third set. Ruud cruises to 40-0 and although he then throws in a double fault, he cleans up the game with the very next point.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 3-3 Casper Ruud*
Alcaraz needs to get some momentum back. This game does exactly that as he wins the first two points and then powerfully puts away an overhead smash for 40-0.
Holds to 15 in the end.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 2-3 Casper Ruud
Ruud was a point away from going a double break down but now the momentum has swung back to the Norwegian. Although he loses the opening point, the next three are put away to move within a point of the game. A forehand form Alcaraz goes well long and Ruud has his nose in front.
Are the three consecutive five-setters to reach the final catching up with Alcaraz...?
*denotes next to serve
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