Casper Ruud makes Erling Haaland admission after reaching US Open final

Casper Ruud does not expect to match the popularity of Erling Haaland in his native Norway even if he beats Carlos Alcaraz to win the US Open and become world number one.

The climax to what has been an extraordinary grand slam tournament will be a straight shootout for a maiden major trophy for both men and top spot in the rankings.

Ruud is already the best player in his country’s history having picked up a love of the sport from his father Christian, who was a top-50 player in the 1990s.

It is a phenomenal period in Norwegian sporting history, with the small country’s athletes leading the world not just in its traditional winter sports but also in athletics and triathlon as well as tennis.

All are trumped so far, though, by Manchester City’s goal machine Haaland, and Ruud said: ‘He’s had an unbelievable season so far. We all hope he keeps going. It’s a joy to watch him score goal after goal.

‘He’s obviously the biggest star we have in Norway for the moment. He’ll probably continue to be so for many more years.

‘I’m just focused on my career. I hope I can, of course, win more tournaments in my career. I want to represent Norway in a good way and put Norwegian tennis a little bit more on the map than it’s been the last years.’

This was billed as the most open men’s grand slam tournament for two decades and, for the first time since the inaugural US major in 1881, all four of the semi-finalists were there for the first time.

It was also the youngest last four at a slam since Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were here in 2008, and the main takeaway from this fortnight will be that men’s tennis should be excited not trepidatious about the era that is coming.

For it to end with so much on the line is