STATS Perform/dpaNew York Carlos Alcaraz never thought his success would come as quickly as it has, with the 19-year-old becoming the youngest men’s world number one in history by defeating Casper Ruud in the US Open final on Sunday.It was Alcaraz’s first Grand Slam final, and in the process he broke the record for the most cumulative court time at a single Grand Slam after grinding through three consecutive five-set matches in the lead-up to the four-set final.This is the third big tournament the Spaniard has won this year. He became the first player born after the year 2000 to win an ATP 1000 Masters event when he beat Ruud at the Miami Open, and then followed it up with a straight-sets win over Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open final.Speaking to the media after his maiden major title, Alcaraz called it “crazy” and a “dream.” “Well, it’s crazy for me,” he said. “I never thought that I was going to achieve something like that at 19 years old - everything has come so fast.“For me it’s unbelievable. It’s something I’ve dreamed since I was a kid, since I started playing tennis. Of course, lifting this trophy today is amazing for me.“Right now I’m enjoying the moment – I’m enjoying having the trophy in my hands - but, of course, I’m hungry for more.“I want to be at the top for many, many weeks - hopefully many years. I’m going to work hard again after this... I’m going to fight for more of this.” With his rapid rise to the pinnacle of the sport, Alcaraz said his victory in Miami was when he realised the path he was on could include grand slam titles.“Honestly, since I won Miami,” he said. “Since I won Miami, I thought I was able to have a Grand Slam in my hands.“But before Miami, I was thinking that I have to still grow up. I thought that I’m able to have good results in a grand slam, but not a champion.“But I would say after Miami - I won great matches in a row - I would say after that I thought that I’m able to win a Grand Slam.” Alcaraz and Ruud went into the match with both bidding for a first slam title and to top the rankings, and it was the Spanish teenager who came out on top, winning 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in front of a jubilant crowd.The 19-year-old is more than a year younger than Lleyton Hewitt was when he topped the standings in 2001.The Australian’s pre-eminence in the sport proved short-lived as first Roger Federer and then Rafael Nadal ascended to the top of the game but, in the week where King Charles assumed sovereignty, tennis appears to have crowned a new king.It is only a year since Alcaraz burst into the spotlight by reaching the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows but his talent was already well known within the sport and he has climbed the rankings at warp speed.He showed that he was ready to win the biggest titles by lifting Masters trophies in Miami and Madrid, where he beat Nadal and Novak Djokovic back to back, and has proved himself to be a complete player despite his tender years.Alcaraz has also shown remarkable powers of physical endurance, recovering from three successive five-set matches, two of which finished past 2 am.No one has ever spent longer on court during a grand slam and at times he appeared physically and mentally weary during the final but Ruud, who was heavily beaten by Nadal in his maiden slam final at the French Open, could not find the killer blow.The match was played under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium on a rainy day in New York and Alcaraz moved into an early lead with a break in the third game.Ruud sportingly gave his opponent a point after the umpire missed a double bounce, but Alcaraz did not really need the help as he clinched the first set.He then forced a break point at 2-2 in the second set but Ruud saved it and from there the contest turned.There were several of the all-court rallies that Alcaraz has made a habit of this tournament, and on one of them in the next game Ruud made the breakthrough, celebrating exuberantly.He then made it four games in a row as Alcaraz’s energy dipped. The teenager broke early in the third but then handed it back with a tired-looking backhand into the net and for much of the rest of the set Alcaraz was hanging on.Ruud brought up two set points at 5-6 but Alcaraz bravely saved both with forays to the net, and he found the perfect time to win his first tie-break of the tournament, albeit with a lot of help from his opponent.Alcaraz was now right on his toes again and pressure paid off when he broke through to lead 4-2 in the fourth set before serving out his historic triumph.The Spaniard becomes the youngest slam champion since Nadal won his first French Open title 17 years ago, and the youngest at the US Open since Pete Sampras in 1990, while this was the second youngest men’s final of the open era.Alcaraz lay on his back after his final winning serve before climbing into the stands to celebrate with his team, led by his coach and former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
