With his victory at the US Open, the Murcian, at 19 years, four months and seven days, becomes the youngest world number one in history
Alcaraz knew how to overcome the solidity and coldness of Ruud with character and a lot of tennis to become the new king of world tennis
MADRID, 12 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -
The Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz won this Sunday in four sets (6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1) and 6-3) against the Norwegian Casper Ruud in the final of the US Open, the last 'Grand Slam' of the season, a victory of character and champion gene, which allows the Murcian to raise his first 'Grand' and ascend to number one in the ranking, being the youngest tennis player to achieve it in all history at 19 years, four months and seven days.
The Murcian lived up to the loot that was at stake in the Arthur Ashe and after a good start, he knew how to overcome the solidity and coldness of the Norwegian, saving two set points against in the third set and winning a 'tie- Immense break' in that third round which was a turning point. His spirit and mentality changed from there, to close the fourth and final set with ease and freshness. He is the sixth number one in Spanish tennis after Arancha Sánchez Vicario, Carlos Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafa Nadal and Garbiñe Muguruza.
The one from El Palmar thus fulfills his dream of being the 'king' of world tennis while lifting the US Open, his first 'Grand'. After an 'ordeal' of a physical tournament, with endless matches in the last three rounds, Alcaraz once again demonstrated that he is made of a different kind of dough and that tennis is in his blood. The new number one in the world showed an insane level of resistance, forgetting that he was a tennis player who arrived with more hours of play in the title match.
The exhibition offered by both tennis players began with a high rhythm, marked by Ruud, knowing that wear and tear could be an asset in his favor. In fact, the first game was already about seven minutes long, a warning to the 25,000 spectators who gathered at the Arthur Ashe to watch one of the most important matches in the history of Spanish tennis.
The Norwegian entered a little more focused and was able to close that first game with his serve, to get two break balls in the second of the match, against a Murcian who was gradually warming up. The Spaniard came back from 15-40 thanks to two very good first serves and an ace, putting an end to that first threat from the Norwegian.
Alcaraz believed it and broke the Norwegian's serve for the first time in the third game of the duel to make it 2-1, supported by a direct and consistent game, with a very dominant forehand. He held off a strong start from the new world number two to take his next serve and make the first set score 3-1. Until now, the freshness of the legs of the Murcian prevailed over the discipline and order of the Norwegian.
With 4-3 for Alcaraz, Ruud recognized a point in favor of the Spaniard for a double pot, after the chair umpire did not see it from his position. A gesture that was appreciated by El Palmar, a sign of the good treatment that reigns between two of the tennis players called to dominate the table in the coming years. The positive inertia of Alcaraz did not stop in this first set, to close the first set with a 6-4, after a last blank game with his service.
Already in the second round, Alcaraz responded to the Norwegian's first game with a blank to make it 1-1, trusting a lot in his service and with very short points with his serve, perhaps to administer and manage his capacity for resistance, aware of that the party could extend more of the account.
At 2-2 and 0-15, one of the best and longest points of the match was seen, which fell on Ruud's side. The Norwegian was aware that he could not let go in this second set to maintain his chances of lifting his first 'Grand Slam'. The first videogame point came with 3-2 and 15 equals, when Ruud shot a lob to the Spaniard that came easy, he also did it to the Norwegian's shot to the left, but Ruud responded with an impossible drop shot for the Murcian. R
Ruud followed that positive inertia to close out that key game and make it 4-2 in his favor, breaking Alcaraz's serve. In this second set, a much messier Murcian, more influenced by emotions, was seen, while the Norwegian became strong from the back of the court, bringing out his ice mentality, with much more consistency. That allowed him to be much superior and close this second set 2-6.
REACTION OF CHAMPION OF ALCARAZ IN THE THIRD SET
The Spaniard was aware that he had to make changes and started the third set in the best way, breaking the Norwegian's serve. He closed that first game with a splendid and plastic drop shot, to later make it 2-0 after a great game and a final ace point. However, Ruud found a black hole in the Spanish game, which led to a drop in performance. Thus, it went from a possible 0-3 to 3-2 for the Norwegian, with clearer ideas.
Alcaraz lived his worst moment of the match, although he had time to see some more of those unlikely points that raised the Arthur Ashe. At 5-6, Ruud had two set points to make it 2-1 up in the match, but Alcaraz was very brave and took the plunge by going to the net and volleying to the right to win the point. In that same game, Alcaraz forced the tiebreaker with an anthological point that made the New York public go crazy.
Already in the fourth set, the Murcian had a break ball to make it 4-2 and he did not fail, with a long rally that despaired Ruud, who hit very long at the worst moment. Alcaraz grew at the right time, placing himself just two games away from making history and lifting his first 'Great'. He had to wait for his service to make the final 6-3 and throw himself on the ground to celebrate his American dream, after becoming the new 'king' of world tennis.