Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud, a career in a final

Whoever wins the final at Flushing Meadows will also become world number one

After Daniil Medvedev’s untimely exit from the tournament, eliminated in the round of 16 by Nick Kyrgios, Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud became two of the three tennis players credited with becoming world number one at the end of the US Open. The third wheel, Rafa Nadal, halted his run against Frances Tiafoe also in the round of 16, thus leaving the two young tennis players with a chance to oust the Russian from the throne.

As fate would have it, Alcaraz and Ruud will play each other in the final, for a match that puts not only the U.S. Open title but also the number one ranking at stake.

The Norwegian did not struggle much more to get the better of Karen Khachanov, bowed out in the fourth set with a final score of 7-6 6-2 5-7 6-2, while the Spanish phenom was the protagonist of another epic battle against home idol Tiafoe, beaten in the fifth set with a score of 6-7 6-3 6-1 6-7 6-3.

Another incredible test of maturity and mental strength for the talent from Murcia, who did not let himself be affected by the wasted chances in the fourth set when, leading immediately by a break, he allowed the comeback of his opponent who then prevailed at the tie-break. Now between Alcaraz and history there is only the Ruud obstacle to overcome, also in the running for the first Slam title of his career.