Rafael Nadal is not yet at the end of his career, even at 36. But one of the Spaniard’s compatriots is already poised to succeed him
Carlos Alcaraz has stormed to the US Open title, becoming the first teenager to jump to the top of the world rankings. The 19-year-old Spanish standout beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 in New York on Sunday and was jubilant about the special double.
“This is something I’ve always dreamed of, to be the world number one and a champion at a Grand Slam,” Alcaraz said. “It’s hard for me to talk about it right now. I have a lot of emotions.”
Until now, Australian Lleyton Hewitt was the youngest world number one in the history of the ATP rankings since 1973 at 20 years and nine months. Alcaraz is also the second teenager since the inception of professional tennis in 1968 to win the US Open, after Pete Sampras in 1990, and the youngest Grand Slam tournament title holder since compatriot Rafael Nadal triumphed in Paris in 2005.
Ruud, who had already reached the final at the French Open, missed the chance to become the first Norwegian to win a major title and take the lead in the world rankings.
