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, 2-2 Casper Ruud* - RUUD BREAKS BACK
Ruud gets a look at an Alcaraz service game here at 15-30 and then an unforced error by the Spaniard makes it 15-40. Two BREAK POINTS to level the set for Ruud...
Lovely put-away volley SAVES the first but he gives Ruud a second serve on the next and finds the net with a groundstroke to hand the game to his opponent.
RUUD BREAKS BACK AGAINST ALCARAZ!
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 2-1 Casper Ruud
That second set may have run away from Alcaraz but he’s reverted to what worked in the first set now - powerful baseline groundstrokes. He got a bit drop-shot happy in that second set.
Actually, the drop shot burns him as he finds the net with it to fall 30-15 behind but a gorgeous lob levels the game at 30-30 before Ruud goes just long with a backhand to bring up a BREAK POINT for a double break. SAVED with a stunning serve.
A big Ruud forehand and Alcaraz going wide then give the Norweigan the hold. Importantly keeps it at just a single break
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 2-0 Casper Ruud*
Alcaraz looks fully focussed now. A series of small fist pumps as a couple of big serves help him make it 40-0. Ruud pulls out some heroics with drop shots and lobs to win the next point but a dismissive ace from the teenager seals the game to 15.
He’s in control of this third set already.
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 Casper Ruud - ALCARAZ BREAKS
An ideal start to the third set for Alcaraz. He looks focused after losing that second set. Gets himself to 15-20 and two BREAK POINTS!
Great defence from Ruud to SAVE the first as the Alcaraz sliding volley falls just wide. He takes the second though! A series of big, grunting forehand before the disguised forehand drop volley is well executed enough.
ALCARAZ BREAKS IN THE OPENING GAME OF THE THIRD SET!
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-6 Casper Ruud* - RUUD WINS THE SECOND SET!
Ruud hanging in and gets the game to 30-30. Can he win this set without needing to serve it out? Serve and big groundstroke give Alcaraz game point but a fizzing backhand down the line slips wide for deuce.
He then goes long and it’s SET POINT for Ruud. Second-serve return is netted though, so it’s SAVED! A double fault means a second SET POINT... And this time he does it! Into the net and the overhead smash for the winner.
RUUD WINS THE SECOND SET!
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-5 Casper Ruud
A break is only any good if you consolidate it and Ruud gets himself into bother at 15-30 with a couple of unforced errors. A great adjustment to a net cord followed by a well-executed backhand overhead importantly makes it 30-30 but a fist pump from Alcaraz follows as he brings up BREAK POINT!
Huuuuge serve - his fastest of the day - and it’s SAVED by Ruud! Deuce. Frustration from Alcaraz as he nets and then an outrageous overhead smash from right at the back of the court, that lands an inch or so inside the Alcaraz baseline, gives Ruud a hard-fought hold.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-4 Casper Ruud* - RUUD BREAKS ALCARAZ
Ruud hanging in points but Alcaraz is largely dictating from the baseline and wearing him down. The Norwegian lacking a bit of precision on the backhand side.
Great point at 30-0 as a 12-shot rally sees Alcaraz scrambling and Ruud finishes it with a drop shot before battling to make it 30-30. A powerful cross-court backhand after getting to a drop shot then gives him a BREAK POINT! Big opportunity for the underdog and he TAKES IT! Looks dead and buried in the point but gets to a wide forehand, then lobs Alcaraz after scampering to a drop shot and the passing shot on the turn from Alcaraz goes wide.
RUUD BREAKS ALCARAZ!
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-3 Casper Ruud
Just superb all-round play by Alcaraz. This 19-year-old is so composed and has such tennis smarts. Brings Ruud into the net with a precise drop shot and finishes the point into the open court.
A thrilling exchange of baseline groundstrokes ends with Ruud gritting out a point for 15-15, Alcaraz then juuust misses an audacious drop shot before Ruud finds a backhand down the line for 40-15. Oooh, what a cross-court passing shot from Alcaraz! And then a long rally ends with him making it deuce.
Now a BREAK POINT after a clean backhand winner but SAVED with a big serve that moves through the air. A netted backhand and Alcaraz going long means a hold of serve.
*denotes next to serve
Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 2-2 Casper Ruud*
Ruud wins the first point of the game but some heavy groundstrokes put Alcaraz back in control as he wins four points on the spin for an easy hold to 15.
Through two service games, Alcaraz has a 100% first-serve record in this set. That’ll work!
*denotes next to serve
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 1-2 Casper Ruud
Well-constructed point by Ruud as he chooses his moment to come to the net and find a volleyed winner. A big serve for 40-0 before Alcaraz goes for a ‘hollywood’ cross-court forehand that flies wide.
A simple love hold for the Norwegian.
*denotes next to serve
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