“It is the ultimate of a grand slam, combating for the No. 1 on the earth — one thing that I’ve dreamed of since I used to be a child,” Alcaraz informed reporters after defeating Frances Tiafoe within the remaining 4.
Defeat Ruud and Alcaraz would turn out to be the youngest No. 1 within the historical past of the ATP rankings — an accolade at the moment owned by Lleyton Hewitt, who reached the highest spot on the age of 20 in 2001.
The Spaniard has enthralled crowds along with his velocity, athleticism, and outrageous shot-making this week and victory may very well be the primary of many grand slam titles over the course of his profession.
A minimum of, that is what Tiafoe predicted as he paid tribute to Alcaraz after their semifinal, calling his opponent “a hell of a participant” and “a hell of an individual.”
Alcaraz, a clay courtroom specialist who has drawn comparisons to compatriot and 22-time grand slam champion Nadal, is simply the second teenager within the Open Period to make the US Open remaining after Pete Sampras. Whatever the scoreline on Sunday, his future seems to be shiny.
“Proper now, you possibly can see that every one the exhausting work I put in day by day is paying off,” Alcaraz informed reporters within the early hours of Saturday morning.
Ruud, in the meantime, might be chasing historical past of his personal within the remaining with the prospect to turn out to be the primary Norwegian man to win a grand slam title.
He has spent much less time on the courtroom at this yr’s match in comparison with Alcaraz, coming by way of only one 5 setter — towards Tommy Paul within the third spherical.
It has been a breakthrough yr for Ruud with regards to the grand slams, the 23-year-old having by no means progressed additional than the fourth spherical previous to this yr’s French Open.
“When you’ve got success or obtain or expertise success within the grand slams, it form of does one thing to your mindset,” he informed reporters on Friday. “Understanding that I can attain additional levels, that does one thing together with your self-belief.”
Ruud and Alcaraz have confronted one another on two earlier events with the latter profitable each, most just lately within the remaining of this yr’s Miami Open.
“We’re enjoying for the match and likewise world No. 1,” stated Ruud. “In fact, there might be nerves and we are going to each really feel it.”
Any nerves might be comprehensible: for the third consecutive yr on the US Open, a first-time grand slam champion might be topped within the males’s singles competitors.
