US Open Highlights, Men's Final: Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud for his maiden Grand Slam title

Carlos Alcaraz speaks:

Firstly, I want to talk about today. I want to say my thoughts are with you on this day. It is never easy to live this day like a normal one. My thoughts are with everyone

This is something I dreamt of – winning a Grand Slam, World No 1. This is something I worked towards. It is tough to talk about it. A lot of emotions. This is something I tried to work on with my family. This is really, really special for me

I was thinking about my mom. She’s not here and my grandfather. A lot of family are here but a lot of family couldn’t come. I was just thinking about them

A little bit tired now! It is no time to be tired in the final week of a Grand Slam. You have to work hard and give everything on the court.

Casper Ruud gets a loud ovation as he steps up to speak:

Before we talk about tennis, I know it is an emotional day for Americans. I want to send my prayers to those who lost people on this tragic day, tragic incident in this beautiful city, beautiful country of yours. It is something we never forget.

Things have been going so well. Today was a special evening. We knew what was at stake. It was fun and fitting that it was about World No 1 and 2. I will continue to chase my first Grand Slam and the World No 1. I am disappointed not to get World No 1 but No 2 isn’t so bad.

I owe everything to them. They’ve been caring, thoughtful and I can’t thank them enough. I hope we can continue to be a strong team. Thank you for your efforts and sacrifices

CARLOS ALCARAZ IS THE US OPEN CHAMPION!

Carlos Alcaraz is the US Open champion, the youngest male winner in New York. At 19 years and 4 months, he is also the youngest World No 1 in ATP rankings history. Previous youngest was 20-year-old Lleyton Hewitt

Ruud 4-6 , 6-2, 6-7, 3-6 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

At 4-6, 6-2, 7-6, 5-3, Carlos Alcaraz steps up to serve for the US Open title. And starts with an ace! Followed by a confident surge to the net for a drop volley just after forcing a slice defensive shot from Ruud. We’ve seen plenty of such shots through this final. Smash is…into the net! 30-15. ACE! Championship point. One gone. Alcaraz overcooks his forehand and it goes well long. 40-30 and another chance. HE CLINCHES IT THIS TIME!

Ruud* 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 2-5 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Alcaraz with a masterclass in clutch tennis. Goes 0-30 down and then serves two aces to go 40-30 up. Closes the game out with an angled serve and a forehand punch down the line for a winner. Four points away!

Ruud 4-6, 6-2, 6-7, 2-4 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Alcaraz’s lob is precise and Ruud backpeddles but the return goes wide. Break point to the Spaniard. TAKEN! Ruud sends his shot long and Alcaraz closes in on his maiden Grand Slam title

THIRD SET CARLOS ALCARAZ!

Carlos Alcaraz saves two set points and clinches the tiebreak with ease to seal the third set 7-6 (1). He had lost all four of his tiebreaks in the last two weeks until winning this one. What a time to turn things around! He is one set away from becoming the youngest US Open champion in the Open Era

Ruud 4-6 , 6-2, 6-6 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Ruud with a cracking forehand winner donw the line to bring up set point. And set point down, Alcaraz with a lovely flick of the wrist for a drop volley as Ruud looked to play a passing shot. On advantage for Alcaraz to hold, Ruud with a gorgeous forehand winner down the line. It clips the top of the net but was going to be a winner either way. On deuce, Alcaraz gets aggressive and pushes up for a backhand volley winner. Alcaraz is 10/13 at the net today. Looks to go for too much with a cross court forehand and is well wide. Deuce once again. The game going into the seventh minute now. Alcaraz with an angled serve on the Ruud forehand and he hits a lovely angled forehand pass to bring a second set point. This one is saved too! Alcaraz once again with serve and volley approach. Drop volley and gets up to the lob to smash it into the open court. 19-year-old Spaniard goes behind Ruud and forces a mistake. He once again tries a serve and volley but the volley isn’t convincing. Nearing 10 minute mark in this game. Alcaraz once again has a chance to hold as Ruud’s defensive slice is into the net. HOLD! Alcaraz has the crowd on its feet with a drop shot, then lob and a smash on Ruud’s tweener. TIEBREAK!

US Open 2022 setting attendance records

New York crowd is on its feet and for good reason!

Ruud* 4-6 , 6-2, 3-3 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Alcaraz stops the run of three straight games for Ruud by holding his serve. But he’s starting to look a bit physically drained. Impact of those lengthy five setters beginning to show. Or too early to tell…

Ruud 4-6 , 6-2, 1-2 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Both players producing some marvelous lobs. Alcaraz with a sublime lob this time and it draws the applause from Ruud. The Spaniard brings up break point but isn’t able to convert with Ruud upping the ante. The Norwegian holds as Alcaraz’s return goes wide

Ruud 4-6 , 6-2, 0-1 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

BREAK! Alcaraz starts the third set by breaking the Ruud serve. He isn’t able to make two break points count but does so on the third. Plays a deft drop shot and Ruud gets to it but isn’t able to get it up and over the net. The Spaniard is pumped!

Alcaraz going the extra mile!

SECOND SET CASPER RUUD!

Casper Ruud levels the match at one set all. He reels in four straight games to take the second 6-2, So we have a best-of-three sets to decide the US Open champion. Settle in folks!

Ruud 4-6 , 5-2 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Alcaraz is upset with himself and yells out after being unable to convert a break point opportunity. He sees the golden chance to bring the second set back on serve go and Ruud is within a game of levelling the match

Ruud* 4-6 , 4-2 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

What an action packed game! Ruud with two sublime lobs to keep the point going and he gets the break in the second set. One of the points seeing a rarity – Alcaraz unable to get to a drop shot

Ruud 4-6 , 3-2 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Ruud goes 30-15 up and doesn’t make the advantage count easily enough. Alcaraz brings up break point by taking the ball early and dispatching the backhand for a winner. Ruud saves the break point with a neat serve. And yet another well-placed serve to bring up game point. The Norwegian holds! Alcaraz with a mishit and the ball lands wide

Crowd watch

Actress Anne Hathaway; 2005, 2009 and 2010 US Open winner Kim Clijsters; 1979 and 1981 champion Tracy Austin; 2003 US Open winner Andy Roddick

This is a crazy stat!

FIRST SET CARLOS ALCARAZ!

Carlos Alcaraz makes the solitary break of serve count and takes the opening set 6-4 in 49 minutes. He is two sets away from a maiden Grand Slam title and World No 1 ranking

Prpops to Ruud right here!

Ruud* 3-5 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Carlos Alcaraz comes from 15-30 down to hold serve. A 131mph ace which came right at Ruud’s body, a clutch drop volley and a pinpoint backhand winner to turn the game around. What pressure?

Ruud 3-4 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

On the court, Ruud continues to stay with Alcaraz but is still a break down. Ruud holds to 15

In attendance at US Open final: political staffer Huma Abedin, Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, Jessica Seinfeld and comedian Jerry Seinfeld; musician Jon Bon Jovi; former NBA star Manu Ginobli

Ruud 1-2 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Alcaraz with some sensational hitting from the back of the court once again and he creates three break point opportunities. The Spaniard moving very well around the court and giving no chance to Ruud who is also swift around the court. Ruud sends his forehand wide and Alcaraz has the break!

Ruud* 1-1 Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Ruud with two very, very good backhands to bring up two break points. He finds the line on one passing shot and then a winner on the serve to see the Alcaraz serve at 15-40. The Spaniard saves one with a deep serve and the return is into the net. Make that two deep serves, both returns into the net. 128mph serve that. Follows it up with a 111mph serve out wide for an ace. A rapid one-two to close the game out.

Ruud 1-0 *Alcaraz (* denotes next server)

Ruud goes 30-0 and then Alcaraz gets into the thick of things with three straight points to bring up break point in the very first game. He takes the ball early at 30-30 on the serve and the backhand reply is far too good for Ruud to return. Ruud saves the break point after Alcaraz sends his groundstroke long. On deuce, Ruud serves a double fault – looks to send the second serve flat this time. And this one is saved too. Alcaraz nets the backhand and Ruud sees the game come to deuce. Quick reflexes from the Norwegian at the net and he brings up game point. At advantage, Alcaraz sends the backhand serve return well long. Hold!

Funny moment at the start

Roof to stay closed for the US Open men’s final

Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz arrive on court

Carlos Alcaraz wins the toss and chooses to receive serve. Casper Ruud wil get the match underway

Women’s Doubles final

Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova beat Caty McNally and Taylor Townsend 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 to win the US Open title and complete a Career Grand Slam.

They won the Australian Open earlier this year, French Open in 2018 and 2021, Wimbledon in 2018 and 2022 and US Open now

Brief snapshot of the two US Open finalists

Quick talking points for the final

1st final featuring 2 men competing for both their 1st Grand Slam title and the World No. 1 ranking

1st Grand Slam men’s final with 2 players who’ve never been World No. 1 competing for No. 1 ranking

Road to the final: Carlos Alcaraz

1st rd: bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 7-5, 7-5, 2-0 – retired

2nd rd: bt Federico Coria (ARG) 6-2, 6-1, 7-5

3rd rd: bt Jenson Brooksby (USA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3

4th rd: bt Marin Cilic (CRO x15) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

QF: bt Jannik Sinner (ITA x11) 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (0/7), 7-5, 6-3

SF: bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x22) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3

Road to the final: Casper Ruud

1st rd: bt Kyle Edmund (GBR) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2

2nd rd: bt Tim van Rijthoven (NED) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

3rd rd: bt Tommy Paul (USA x29) 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/2), 5-7, 6-0

4th rd: bt Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2

QF: bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA x13) 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)

SF: bt Karen Khachanov (x27) 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

Quick preview: Alcaraz vs Ruud

A first-time Grand Slam champion will be crowned at the US Open for the third consecutive year when Carlos Alcaraz meets Casper Ruud. Dominic Thiem won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2020 and Daniil Medvedev did the same in 2021.

The winner will also move to No. 1 in the ATP rankings on Monday.

The 19-year-old Alcaraz could become the youngest man to win a major since fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal did so at the same age at the 2005 French Open. Ruud would become the first No. 1 player from Norway.