With one match, Carlos Alcaraz has cemented his place in tennis history.
The Spaniard’s 6-4 2-6 7-6 (1) 6-3 win over Casper Ruud in the 2022 US Open men’s final has seen him not only win a Grand Slam title as a teenager but also become the youngest ever men’s world number one.
Following Daniil Medvedev’s early exit from Flushing Meadows, top spot was up for grabs for both Alcaraz and Ruud in the US Open final.
While Ruud more than held his own and also committed a great act of sportsmanship, it was Alcaraz that would ultimately prevail in the title match.
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The win means the Spaniard will become the new world No.1 when rankings are updated next week.
Alcaraz’s swift rise to top spot will be confirmed at the age of just 19 years and 130 days.
That means he has smashed the previous record for youngest men’s world number one which was held by Lleyton Hewitt when he also won the US Open at the age of 20 years and 268 days.
Alcaraz has also become world No. 1 far quicker than fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who didn't complete the feat until he was 22.
FIRST GRAND SLAM TITLE AND FIRST TEENAGER TO REACH 🌍 NO. 1️⃣@CarlosAlcaraz defeats Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6 6-3 to clinch his maiden Grand Slam at the US Open.@USOpen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/5rINBD0ATr
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 11, 2022
Youngest men’s world number one
| Player | Age |
|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz | 19 years and 130 days |
| Lleyton Hewitt | 20 years and 268 days |
| Marat Safin | 20 years and 298 days |
| John McEnroe | 21 years and 16 days |
| Andy Roddick | 21 years and 65 days |
| Bjorn Borg | 21 years and 78 days |
| Jim Courier | 21 years and 177 days |
| Pete Sampras | 21 years and 243 days |
| Jimmy Connors | 21 years and 330 days |
| Rafael Nadal | 22 years and 76 days |
Youngest men's Grand Slam winners
While Alcaraz has become the youngest men's world number, he isn't the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title.
The Spaniard is in fact just the seventh youngest to win such a tournament with Michael Chang's record unlikely to be beaten anytime soon.
Alcaraz is the second youngest man to win the US Open after Pete Sampras.
| Player | Title | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Chang | French Open | 17 years and 110 days |
| Boris Becker | Wimbledon | 17 years and 228 days |
| Mats Wilander | French Open | 17 years and 293 days |
| Bjorn Borg | French Open | 18 years and 10 days |
| Rafael Nadal | French Open | 19 years and 3 days |
| Pete Sampras | US Open | 19 years and 29 days |
| Carlos Alcaraz | US Open | 19 years and 129 days |
| Stefan Edberg | Australian Open | 19 years and 324 days |
| Lleyton Hewitt | US Open | 20 years and 198 days |
| John McEnroe | US Open | 20 years and 205 days |