Carlos Alcaraz, the Spaniard, overcame Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 to clinch his first, US Open,  Grand Slam trophy.

Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest tennis player ever to take the No. 1 position among the world’s top touring men.At 19, the Spaniard is also the only men’s teenager to top the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

The 19-year-old has become the youngest Grand Slam champion since countryman Rafael Nadal, 19, lifted the trophy at Roland Garros in 2005, while he is the youngest US Open titlist since Pete Sampras, 19, in 1990.

Alcaraz is the first player since Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019 to save a match point en route to a Grand Slam title, having saved one against Sinner. The Serbian Djokovic saved two against Roger Federer in the 2019 final at The Championships.

 FACTS AND FIGURES

The French Open is played on clay, which owes its red colour to the crushed brick which forms the upper layer of the surface. There are three layers in all – one of limestone, one of clinker and one of stone – as well as drainage pipes. Clay is the slowest of surfaces. Along with the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, the French Open is one of the four historic tennis tournaments which make up the legendary Grand Slam.

The four tournaments all being played on different surfaces: Plexi cushion in Australia, clay at Roland Garros, grass at Wimbledon and Decoturf at the US Open. The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are the four Grand Slam tournaments. The Grand Slam itinerary consists of the Australian Open in mid January, the French Open in May/June, Wimbledon in June/July, and the US Open in August/September.