US Open: Welcome to the Age of Carlos I
Carlos Alcaraz 's triumph at the US Open could mark the beginning of a new era in tennis. Alexander Zverev is now one of the hunters of the new number one.
by SID
last edit: Sep 12, 2022, 02:55 pm
The great Rafael Nadal bowed, the Spanish royal family effusively congratulated and in El Palmar, the home of Carlos Alcaraz, people lay in each other's arms in the middle of the night, completely euphoric: when the historic double strike of the meteoric riser in New York was perfect, there was no holding back.
"I'm so happy," said Alcaraz: "I'm 19 years old, everything happened so quickly." The exceptional athlete had already more than indicated with his performances this season that he is the future of tennis. The fact that the new era starts in September 2022 is just as amazing as it is frightening for the competition around Alexander Zverev, who did not start in the Big Apple and is still dreaming of his first major win.
Alcaraz - celebrated hero from the Murcia region
"Welcome to the Alcaraz era", headlined AS after the 6: 4, 2: 6, 7: 6 (7: 1), 6: 3 final win at the US Open against the Norwegian Casper Ruud. The acclaimed hero from the Murcia region is the youngest Grand Slam winner since Nadal in Paris in 2005. He is the youngest world number one since 1973, when the world rankings received today's mode. And "Carlos I.", as Marca christened the "new tennis king", who stood on the court in New York for a record time of 23 hours and 40 minutes, wants a lot more.
"I'm enjoying holding the trophy in my hands but of course I'm hungry for more," said Alcaraz, which features real-life Spanish royalty with Felipe VI. at the top quickly reported. "To reach the top of the world rankings at such a young age is no longer a dream but a historic achievement," the statement said. Nadal, the Grand Slam record champion and Alcaraz' role model, was impressed by the "highlight of your first great season," as the 36-year-old wrote: "I'm sure there will be many more."
His opponent in the final, Ruud, was also very impressed by "Carlitos". "He shifts up a gear when things get tight," said Ruud. "Sometimes you can't believe he's still a teenager. For me, he's really the best player in the world right now."
Next action in the Davis Cup
Alcaraz, for whom appearances in the Davis Cup are due next week, will have to find their way in a new role in the future. Suddenly he is the player that top stars like the previous world number one Daniil Medvedev (Russia), the aging heroes Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but also Zverev are chasing. At the French Open, the German number one had clearly beaten Alcaraz.
Alcaraz' coach Juan Carlos Ferrero is sure that his protégé will continue to improve. His protégé is just at "60 percent of his game," said Ferrero, who himself had been at the top of the ranking for eight weeks 19 years ago.
And apparently Ferrero does not think it is completely absurd that Alcaraz can also emulate Nadal in terms of the number of major titles. "We're talking about 22 Grand Slams here," said Ferrero: "There's still a long way to go. But who knows? I think he has the potential to be one of the best. We just have to try."
Here is the men's individual tableau
nycmap