No fear as Carlos Alcaraz eyes childhood 'dream' in US Open final

The 19-year-old Spaniard tackles Casper Ruud in a winner-takes-all final with both men chasing a maiden Slam crown and the top ranking. "I'm not afraid of the moment," said Alcaraz, the youngest finalist at a Slam since compatriot Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005. In a tournament which saw Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer fail to make the start, and four-time winner Nadal falling at the last-16 hurdle, Alcaraz has flourished in his status as champion-in-waiting.

His mesmerising shot-making and flamboyance hasve seen him overcome three successive five-setters to make the final. He spent more than 13 hours on court in those three marathons. Against Jannik Sinner, in a five-hour 15-minute quarter-final which ended at 2:50 a.m. on Thursday morning, he saved a match point. He then required four match points to finish off Frances Tiafoe in Friday's semi-final, which was the fourth longest match of the tournament. It was Alcaraz's 50th win of 2022. Such performances have convinced Alcaraz that the stars have aligned for him to capture his first Slam title.

"I've prepared myself mentally and physically to be fighting for the big things on Sunday," said Alcaraz, the youngest finalist in New York since Pete Sampras in 1990. "I always dreamed of being number one." Alcaraz has a 2-0 winning record over Ruud, who will be playing in his second Slam final after finishing runner-up to Nadal at the French Open in June. One of those wins came on hard courts at the Miami final in March. It was one of Alcaraz's four titles in 2022. In both previous meetings, Alcaraz has won in straight sets. "I am just going for it and I'll enjoy the moment," said Alcaraz, whose coach Juan Carlos Ferrero ascended to the number one spot when he