Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Casper Ruud, of Norway, in the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) US Open 2022 Final Live, Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud Live Score Streaming and Updates: The stakes could not be higher in Sunday’s Flushing Meadows final between Spanish teenage phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz and Norwegian Casper Ruud, with the U.S. Open trophy and the world number one ranking awaiting the winner. Norwegian Casper Ruud reached his second Grand Slam final this year, beating Russian Karen Khachanov.
Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest man in a final at Flushing Meadows since Pete Sampras won the 1990 U.S. Open at 19, and the youngest in any major title match since Nadal won the 2005 French Open at that age. Who will win tonight?
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In a high-stakes singles final on Sunday, the winner will claim his first Grand Slam title and also become the new World No. 1; an opportunity to achieve two huge milestones at once. (AP)
By the looks of it, the Spaniard will win many more on this stage. One that he has seemed he has always belonged on. His reign begins today.
"Dreamt since I was a kid to be World No. 1, champion of the world, champion of Grand Slam. It's tough to talk right now," the Spaniard said.
"Carlos and I knew what's at stake here. In a way it's fun, it's fitting that the finalists here will be No. 1 and No. 2 tomorrow... I'm disappointed, but No. 2 is a good number too," he said.
"Before we talk about tennis, I just wanted to say something as I know it's an emotional day for Americans on this date," he said on-court.
Ruud was brilliant in neutralising Alcaraz's game, and led the way for much of the contest. He lacked the clutch play, but still an outstanding tournament for him in a season that has seen him reach two Grand Slam finals and ascend to World No. 2.
The Spaniard's rise this year has been historic. Two Masters 1000s, a Grand Slam, and the World No. 1 spot.
He is not just the future of tennis. He is the present.
Carlos Alcaraz goes into the history books. Becomes the first teenager to ever be World No. 1. Unbelievable achievement for a generational talent.
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The 19-year-old gets through Ruud, whose incredible performance in the second and third set was mulled by Alcaraz by clutch play in the tiebreaker and throughout the first set.
Love hold for Ruud.
Alcaraz serves for the championship now.
Alcaraz one game away from his first Grand Slam title.
Massive pressure on Ruud's shoulders now.
Alcaraz breaks!
The depth of his returns really hurt Ruud, who has not seemed the same player he was for the rest of the match in the fourth set.
Match on Alcaraz's racquet now.
On serve in the fourth. Ruud looking the nervy one now.
The Spaniard wins a set of exceptional quality. He showed tenacity to dig himself out of a hole in his final service game and took advantage of Ruud's errors in the breaker to storm through 7-1.
Ruud was the better player in that set. Can he reset now?
Alcaraz with some impressive tennis, including an absolutely clutch volley down set point and a couple of impossible gets at game point, to force this into a tiebreaker.
He's lost all four of his sets in the last two matches in the breaker, needs to improve that record here.
The level has gone through the roof, especially compared to the cagey early stages.
Ruud has upped the ante today, and Alcaraz's gets are not failing to shock. They play an outstanding rally with shots coming off the net and their racquet frames.
The level of tennis in the latter stages of this fourth set has been very high.
Ruud in a very stable place. Up 6-5 on serve.
Ruud holds his serve, albeit shakily. Alcaraz, clearly fatigued, needs something to reignite his spark. Will serve to stay in the third.
Incredible point.
Ruud won, but Alcaraz refused to go down. That may shift the momentum back into his stride. The crowd's energy is resurfacing with Alcaraz's.
Still on serve in the third.
The last few matches seem to have taken their toll on Alcaraz, but he is still well-placed in this final.