The fourth and final tennis major of 2022 has come and gone and for the third time in as many years the US Open has crowned a maiden Grand Slam winner in the men’s draw.
The 142nd edition of the American major delivered prime entertainment and a new champion as Carlos Alcaraz stormed to a stunning victory against Casper Ruud – 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 – to gain his first taste of major glory as well ascend to the top of the world rankings.
For the second time in three years at the US Open, the championship match was contested by two competitors with no Grand Slam titles. Emotions were raw on the 21st anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, but the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium remained on top form and helped deliver a sensational and historical final.
Alcaraz took the opening set, 6-4, before Ruud responded to level the match, taking the second set 6-2. The third went to a tiebreaker which the Spaniard dominated to take the lead for a second time, and he saw out the match to capture his first piece of major silverware.
I'm lost for words at right now! 🏆 I just want to keep dreaming!
📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/IyQXjvgamY
— Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) September 12, 2022
Alcaraz played five sets in three successive matches leading up to the final with a total 13,5 hours on-court against Marin Čilić, Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe. Even before turning 20, ‘Carlitos’ – as he is known affectionately – can no longer be considered an underdog and he will undoubtedly be among the favourites at future Grand Slam events. He becomes the third successive maiden Slam champion crowned at Flushing Meadows, following on from Dominic Thiem in 2020 and Medvedev last year.
The Spaniard becomes the youngest US Open finalist (and winner) since Pete Sampras in 1990, the youngest player to win a Grand Slam since countryman Rafael Nadal did in 2005, and the youngest world number one in the history of the ATP rankings. Earlier this year he became the second-youngest player to win two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami and Madrid), only behind Nadal.
A second major final of the year for Ruud sees the 23-year-old Norwegian rise to second spot in the world rankings, meaning he and Alcaraz are now the second-youngest top two ranked players, behind Jimmy Connors (22) and Bjorn Borg (18) in 1975.
History rewritten by Carlos Alcaraz ✍️ pic.twitter.com/eFToqFjRNk
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2022
Alcaraz and Iga Świątek become the first pair of singles champions born in the 2000s and they took home $2,6million USD apiece for their efforts. Runners-up Jabeur and Ruud each walked away with $1,3million USD in prize money.
The newly-crowned US Open champion climbs three places to the summit of the ATP rankings, with Ruud up five places to 2nd. Nadal stays put in 3rd while Daniil Medvedev drops three places to 4th. Alexander Zverev also lost three places and now sits 5th. 21-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic is ranked 7th in the world.
Your new World No. 1 come tomorrow morning: pic.twitter.com/qbOCv4HNQT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 11, 2022
