Alcaraz and Ruud to battle it out for no. 1 spot in US Open final

Saturday, 10 September 2022 at 08:30

Updated at Saturday, 10 September 2022 at 08:39

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byEvita Mueller

Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud will meet in the 2022 US Open final after successfully overcoming their semifinal opponents.

First to play was the young Norwegian who took on the 27th-seeded Karen Khachanov. It was a match of ups and downs for both players. Tt was Casper Ruud who had the first break advantage in the first set, then the Russian but eventually, tie-break had to decide it.

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In the tie-break, the Norwegian was more solid on his serve and after winning it 7-5, he headed into the second set with and advantage. And he managed to use that very well as he didn't lose any point on his serve in the set and added two breaks to win it comfortably 6-2.

But Khachanov fought back in the third set as this time, he didn't allow world number 7 to have any break points. He used his second chance of the set in the twelfth game to win the set 7-5 and cause some trouble for the Norwegian.

But Ruud improved once again in the fourth set and again, it was him who was the only player to have break points and use them. After three hours and three minutes, he won 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 and if Carlos Alcaraz would lose his match, he would become world number 1.

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But that didn't happen. The 19-years-old Spaniard took on home-crowd favourite, Frances Tiafoe in what has been another incredible battle on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The crowd in New York was happy to see their player prevail in the first-set tie-break after having a set point earlier and Tiafoe started the match in the best way possible.

But the teenage sensation soon showed his firepower in the second and third set when he didn't allow his opponent to do much and in only 80 minutes, he turned the score around and was heading into the fourth set with a 2-1 lead.

But despite being a break down and facing a match point, the American fought back. He forced yet another tie-break and once again he won it as the match headed into the decider.

After playing five sets against Marin Cilic and Jannik Sinner, the Spaniard was visibly exhausted but he still managed to keep fighting and break his opponent three times, to win the match 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 and set up the final against Casper Ruud.

Winner of their final meeting will also become new world number 1 as Carlos Alcaraz has a chance to become the youngest world number 1 in the history of men's tennis.