Immersed in a mixture of emotions, torn between tears and smiles, Carlos Alcaraz waited to receive the trophy that recognized him as US Open champion. Time to digest what happened. It was the most important victory of the Murcian's still short career. First Grand Slam final, first title and first place in the ATP ranking, the youngest number one in history. For this he had to get rid of Casper Ruud (6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3), another of the contenders for the throne after the abdication of Daniil Medvedev, unable to overcome the round of 16 of the tournament. In three hours and twenty minutes, Alcaraz was ahead, suffered, resisted and, finally, won.
He took control of the match from the start, dominating with aggressiveness and his characteristic hitting versatility. He took the first heat very solvently, but the Norwegian resurfaced in the second. Facing the Alcaraz gale was Ruud's strict tactics, capable of slowing down the Murcian's revolutions and taking advantage of his disconnections to gain distance on the scoreboard and equalize the match. Despite the negative dynamics and the excitement and pressure of the moment, the Spaniard showed a pose difficult to see in someone his age. He ended up forcing a tie break in which he went over his rival and, then, yes, he broke into play with the confidence of someone who knows he is superior.
"I won the trophy because I was happy on the court. In Montreal and Cincinnati I lost my joy a little. I felt the pressure. I didn't smile on the court. I came here to have a good time, to enjoy tennis, which I love, and if I I had a good time, I showed my best level", acknowledged Alcaraz after the match. At 19 years old, he has inscribed his name in tennis history, but he knows that this is just the beginning of a journey that promises to be full of great moments. "I lack a lot: tennis, mentality, physical ... I still have a lot to improve in all aspects. I have to keep evolving. I can't stagnate now," he said. Step by Step. At the moment, his precocious talent is already looking at the racket world from above.
