Carlos Alcaraz beats Casper Ruud in US Open final to win first grand slam at age of 19

Throughout this historic season, as he methodically climbed towards the top of his profession despite being a teenager in just his second full year on the ATP tour, Carlos Alcaraz was unfailingly clear about his objective: he was here to win grand slams. Not at some vague point in the future, or when he gained a little more experience, but now. He was ready.

He has backed up his intentions every step of the way and on Sunday evening he capped off his wild, thrilling ride to his maiden grand slam title by withstanding an intense challenge from Casper Ruud before powering on with his shotmaking and athleticism. He beat his Norwegian opponent 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 to capture the US Open – and a grand slam title – for the first time in his young career.

Having spent much of the past few years breaking age records, he will now take the most impressive one of them of all, one that could stand for a long time. Alcaraz will rise to world No 1 on Monday for the first time in his career, making him the youngest player to achieve the feat in ATP history. At just 19 years and four months, the Spaniard is the first teenage No 1 the men’s game has ever had, more than a year younger than the previous record holder, Lleyton Hewitt.

The final marked the first time in the Open era that two players had faced each other with a maiden grand slam title and the No 1 ranking on the line. Alcaraz and 23 year-old Ruud, who reached the French Open final earlier this year, also contested the second-youngest grand slam final in the Open era in terms of player age, behind only the 1990 US Open between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

While he had played the best tennis at this tournament by a considerable distance, Alcaraz could not have faced a more