Teen Carlos Alcaraz is playing Casper Ruud, not much older, in the finals of the US Open 2022 at the Flushing Meadows in New York. For both it’s a chance to win their first Grand Slam title. Also at stake is another big prize. The title of world no 1. 

After Rafael Nadal – fighting age and injury to attempt winning a record 23rd Grand Slam – was defeated in the round of 16, it left the men’s draw open at the US Open 2022.

Nick Kyrgios became the next favourite after his incredible summer run, and even more so after he defeated defending champion and world no 1, Daniil Medvedev. However, the Australian too gave in to the strain of high expectations.

Also read: US Open 2022: Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud? The race for World No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz, 19, was in the other half of the draw and delivered not just one, but three sensational, five-setters all, to advance to his first Grand Slam final.

Playing him is the man no one foresaw in the finals a week ago. Casper Ruud, 23, who lost Nadal in the French Open final and is playing in his second Grand Slam final in 2022. 

Also read: Iga Swiatek beats Ons Jabeur to win US Open 2022

In the final at Flushing Meadows, the two young competitors are each vying for his first major championship and the chance to overtake the current world no. 1 in the ATP rankings.

Here’s a head-to-head record, significant statistics, and records on the line in the intense battle between Alcaraz and Ruud.

Head-to-head

The Miami Open Final in 2022 and the Andalucia Open quarterfinal in 2021 were the only two times the two had previously met, both of which Alcaraz had won in straight sets. Earlier this year in Miami, Ruud had broken the Spaniard early to lead 4-1 in the first set before Alcaraz fought back to win 7-5, 6-4.

Also read: US Open 2022: Aussies John Peers, Storm Sanders win mixed doubles

Top seed stakes

– If he wins the US Open, Alcaraz will break the record for the youngest male tennis world number one, while Ruud will become the first-ever player from Norway to hold the position if he performs better than the 19-year-old in New York.

– After Pete Sampras in 2000, Carlos Moya, and Andre Agassi in 1999, if Alcaraz wins, a player ranked No. 4 will have gone to the top of the rankings chart four times, representing the longest jump in history. But if No. 7 Ruud moves up to the top place, it would represent the largest rise in ATP rankings history.

– In the history of men’s singles, this will be the first Grand Slam final in which two players will have the opportunity to achieve the world no. 1 position.

Also read: Casper Ruud-Carlos Alcaraz contest challenges established tennis order

Other key stats

– 19-year-old Alcaraz is the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Rafael Nadal in 2005 French Open and the youngest US Open finalist since Pete Sampras in 1990. Both Nadal and Sampras had won the respective titles back then.

– Alcaraz is the only professional male tennis player since Agassi at the 2005 US Open to advance to the final after winning three straight five-setter matches. He is the seventh player in this category overall.

– Ruud is the first ever Norwegian player to have made it to the US Open final.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud: When and where to watch US Open men’s singles final 2022

– Ruud is the first ever Norwegian player to have made it to the US Open final. The victor will be the 57th men’s Grand Slam champion in the Open Era, the 30th at the US Open, and the 10th in the last 15 Flushing Meadows tournaments.

Records aimed at

– Alcaraz seeks to become the first winner of the US Open since Sampras in 1990 and the youngest Grand Slam champion since Nadal at the 2005 French Open.

– Ruud is trying to win his first Grand Slam title and become the first tennis player from Norway to do so.