By Sunday night, we will have a new US Open champion.
The No. 3 seed Carlos Alcaraz will face No. 7 Casper Ruud for the championship.
The winner will become a US Open winner for the first time and also be the new World No. 1.
Alcaraz’s journey to the final wasn’t easy.
He had to battle past local favourite Frances Tiafoe 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 for four hours and 19 minutes.
In the process, he became the second teen to make the US Open final in the Open Era, after legendary American Pete Sampras.
Alcaraz showed no signs of tiredness after his quarter-final epic against Jannik Sinner, which was the second-longest match in US Open history (five hours, 15 minutes).
In fact, Alcaraz has won three consecutive five-setters lasting a combined 13 hours and 28 minutes.
If Alcaraz triumphs, he will become the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings (since 1973).
Said Alcatraz, “To be honest in the semi-final of a Grand Slam you have to give everything… we have to fight until the last ball. It doesn’t matter if we are fighting for five hours, six hours. It doesn’t matter. You have to give everything on court.”
“It’s amazing to be able to fight for big things. First time in the final of a Grand Slam. I can see the No. 1 in the world, but at the same time it’s so far away.”
“I’m going to give everything that I have. I will have to handle the nerves of being in a final of a Grand Slam, but obviously I’m really, really happy and as I said before every match, I’m going to enjoy. I’m going to enjoy the moment and let’s see what happens.”
2022 – A dream year
Carlos Alcatraz was World number 31 at the beginning of the year during the Australian Open.
The Spaniard talent has steadily climbed the rankings to World No. 4, thanks to quarter-finals appearances at the Roland Garros and the US Open.
Alcaraz also reached a milestone of 48 victories in 2022.
He is the player with the most successes on the men’s Tour this year.
In the women’s category, Tunisian Ons Jabeur reached a second consecutive Slam title match without needing to produce her best tennis Thursday night.
She beat a shaky Caroline Garcia to win their semifinal 6-1, 6-3.
Jabeur will go up against No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek.
Iga grabbed the last four games, and 16 of the last 20 points, to come back and beat No. 6 Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.