Alcaraz rediscovers the joy of tennis at US Open

NEW YORK : With a mighty serve and beaming grin, Carlos Alcaraz rocketed to the pinnacle of men's tennis at the U.S. Open on Sunday, a remarkable turnaround for the 19-year-old just weeks after he said he had lost some of his joy for the sport.

The New York crowd had taken the Spanish teen to their hearts last year when he became the youngest man to reach a U.S. Open quarter-final.

And their affections deepened on Sunday when he beat Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 to win his first Grand Slam and replace Daniil Medvedev as world number one.

After collecting a pair of Masters 1000 titles this year Alcaraz looked set to push for his first major title in New York but suffered a crisis of confidence in Montreal last month, losing his opening match.

He then exited the Cincinnati Open in the quarter-finals and said the pressure was getting to him.

"In Montreal and in Cincinnati I lost the joy a little bit," said Alcaraz. "I felt the pressure. I couldn't smile on court which I'm doing in every match, every tournament."

He arrived at Flushing Meadows determined to enjoy himself, he said, though the path to the final could scarcely have been more gruelling.

He survived three consecutive five-setters before meeting the Norwegian on Sunday, though the bruising schedule seemed to have little impact on the supremely athletic Alcaraz.

"He (was) born to play this kind of tournament, born to play these kind of matches," said his coach, fellow Spaniard and former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.

"He's a great competitor. He's there. He's trying all the time."

Ferrero, the 2003 Roland Garros champion, said he recognised the "explosive" talent in Alcaraz right away but they had to work hard to improve the physical side of his game.

"When he