Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud to clinch US Open title

NEW YORK: Spanish youth Carlos Alcaraz clinched the US Open title after beating Casper Ruud in the US Open final.

In his first major final, Alcaraz prevailed 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3.

Since Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005, the 19-year-old is the youngest man to win a Grand Slam tournament.

Ruud has now lost both of his two major finals, and if he had won, he would have taken over as the new world number one.

Alcaraz, the only teenager to reach the top in the 49-year history of the ATP rankings, replaces Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the top.

After losing his first championship point with a straightforward forehand long, Alcaraz won his second with a service winner out wide and immediately fell to the ground in New York.

Alcaraz, who turned away two set chances that would have given Ruud the lead in the third, raced up to his squad in the crowd and danced with them in a huddle before going back to his seat and breaking down in tears while grinning.

"This is something which I dreamt of since I was a kid, being number one in the world and a champion of a Grand Slam," said Alcaraz, who saved a match point against Jannik Sinner in the last eight to reach his first major semi-final.

"It is something I have worked very hard for. It is really, really special."

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