Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud LIVE: Alcaraz wins US Open men’s singles title and becomes world No 1

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud to win his first grand slam title at the US Open and become the youngest man ever to be ranked world No 1.

Alcaraz and Ruud went into the match with both bidding for a first slam title and to top the rankings, and it was the Spanish teenager who came out on top, winning 6-4 2-6 7-6 (1) 6-3 in front of a jubilant crowd.

The 19-year-old is more than a year younger than Lleyton Hewitt was when he topped the standings in 2001.

The Australian’s pre-eminence in the sport proved short-lived as first Roger Federer and then Rafael Nadal ascended to the top of the game but, in the week where King Charles assumed sovereignty, tennis appears to have crowned a new king.

It is only a year since Alcaraz burst into the spotlight by reaching the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows but his talent was already well known within the sport and he has climbed the rankings at warp speed.

A brilliant performance by Carlos Alcaraz. A fully-deserved victory and he first grand slam of many. He only turned 19 years old in May and it has really felt like the coming of the next generation this fortnight at Flushing Meadows.

A word for Casper Ruud, who was brilliant and will be the new world No 2, but this is Alcaraz’s moment. Just brilliant.

Ok, here we go. This could be Alcaraz’s moment of destiny.

Perfect start with a 126mph ace – his 13th of the match. 15-0. Stunning forehand out wide, comes to the net and puts away the volley – he’s looked brilliant at the net in this match. 30-0 and he’s two points away.

Oh no! He’s missed a simple overhead smash. Finds the middle of the net and Ruud has the smallest glimmer of hope at 30-15.

What a response! Ace down the ‘T’ – 40-15 and TWO CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS… Tries to win it all with a forehand but drifts long. First one SAVED!

Second Championship point… Huge serve, can’t be returned and he drops to the floor.

CARLOS ALCARAZ WINS THE US OPEN AND IS THE NEW WORLD NO 1

Ruud at least forces Alcaraz to serve it out. A straightforward love hold. Can the Spaniard now hold his nerve to become a rare teenage grand slam winner?

Ruud not going down without a fight here. Takes the first two points, the second coming off a missed drop volley for Alcaraz to go 0-30.

Great battling from the Spaniard though and ace number 11 helps him fight to 30-30. Another ace! 40-30 and it’s game point, which he takes to move one game away from his maiden US Open title.

Perhaps a chance of a first break in this fourth set as Ruud leaves one short and Alcaraz puts the backhand away for 15-30. Goes wide on the next point though – 30-30.

BREAK POINT Alcaraz after superb defensive work forces Ruud to miss an overhead. And he takes it! Ruud goes long and ALCARAZ BREAKS! He’s just two points from US Open glory now.

Big serves aplenty for both men now, as Alcaraz opens up with his eighth ace and immediately bangs his ninth down the ‘T’. WOW! Make that 10 aces as he bangs a third in a row.

Finally misses one, then the second serve as well for a double fault but then we finally get a point involving open play, which Alcaraz wins for a hold to 15.

Ruud digs out a volley on the first point but goes for too much on a forehand that follows. 15-15. Ooosh! Massive forehand winner by the Norwegian, unreturned serve and ace seals it to 15. He still means business.

We pass the three-hour mark for this match and there’s plenty of life left in it.

Ruud standing miles behind the baseline on the Alcaraz first serve. It doesn’t appear to be giving him any particular advantage as he slips to 0-30 before Alcaraz blasts one long down the middle after coming forward.

Makes up for it on the next point as he marmalises a forehand after a big serve and seals the game to 15 with an ace down the ‘T’

Some lovely groundstrokes from Ruud and a sublime pick-up volley helps him move within one point of the hold, which he seals when Alcaraz finds the net. Hold to 15 and we’re at 1-1.