US Open: Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud in historic final

Carlos Alcaraz will take on Casper Ruud in US Open 2022 final. He defeated home favourite Frances Tiafoe in five sets in the semifinal

0
1189
Carlos Alcaraz will take on Casper Ruud in US Open 2022 final

Carlos Alcaraz set up a US Open summit clash against Casper Ruud in what will be the youngest Grand Slam final in 14 years.

Alcaraz, 19, battled past home favourite Frances Tiafoe 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 after four hours and 19 minutes to reach his first major championship match.

ALSO READ: Ons Jabeur takes on Iga Swiatek in US Open final

Earlier in the day, Ruud defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to also reach his US Open final.

The 23-year-old Ruud and teen Alcaraz thus set up the youngest Grand Slam final since 2008 Australian Open, when a 20-year-old Novak Djokovic defeated 22-year-old Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Second teen

Alcaraz is also only the second teen to make the US Open final in the Open Era, joining legendary American Pete Sampras.

Upgrade your serve with our FREE guide

“To be honest in the semi-final of a Grand Slam you have to give everything… we have to fight until the last ball,” the Spaniard said.

“It doesn’t matter if we are fighting for five hours, six hours. It doesn’t matter.

“You have to give everything on court. Frances gave everything on court. This is amazing.”

ALSO READ: Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner in late-night epic

Alcaraz has now won three consecutive five-setters lasting a combined 13 hours and 28 minutes.

For Alcaraz and Ruud, it is not just the US Open title that is at stake on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Nick Kyrgios handed biggest fine of the tournament

The winner will claim his first Slam crown as well as World No. 1.

If the Spaniard triumphs, he will become the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973).

Another final for Ruud

Ruud will be appearing in his second Grand Slam final of the season after finishing runner-up to Nadal at the French Open in June.

“After Roland Garros, I was extremely happy but at the same time humble enough to think that could be my only final in a Grand Slam in my career,” said Ruud.

“They don’t come easy. So here I am a couple of months later – it feels beyond words to describe.”

ALSO READ: No candy for US Open semifinalist Frances Tiafoe

The 23-year-old Norwegian set the tone for his dominance early in the semi-final when he came out on top in a 55-shot rally to convert a third set point in the opening tiebreak which his Russian rival described as “crazy”.

LEAVE A REPLY