5 fun facts as Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud look to script history at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz, 19, has dazzled on his way to the US Open final, where he is engaged in an intense battle of tennis with Norwegian Casper Ruud, 23, in a match that will not just hand one of them his first Grand Slam title, but also the title of world no 1.

It is being called a clash of tennis’s next generation, even as the Big Three – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer – remain in the fray to try and outdo each other on number of Grand Slam titles. Nadal has 22, Djokovic 21, and Federer 20.

Also read: US Open 2022 final: Casper Ruud vs Carlos Alcaraz head-to-head, other stats

Here are some interesting facts to know as the world watches the historic match being played by the two young men at Flushing Meadows:

For the last three years, including this time, the US Open champion is a first-time winner not just at the tournament but at any Grand Slam event. Australian Dominic Thiem had won his first Slam when he won the US Open in 2020. Daniil Medvedev won his first Grand Slam too in 2021, when he won the US Open.

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

If he wins, Carlos Alcaraz, 19, will become the youngest man to win a Grand Slam tournament in 17 years. Alcaraz’s hero Rafael Nadal was 19 too when he won the French Open in 2005.

If Alcaraz wins he will also become the youngest world no 1 since 1973, when the ATP computer rankings began.

Alcaraz came to the final having spent 14 hours on the court in his last three matches, each a five-setter. The last man to enter the finals after winning three straight five-set matches was Andre Agassi at the US Open in 2005. He lost to Roger Federer in the final.

Also read: US Open 2022: Casper Ruud ‘happy’ to be facing Carlos Alcaraz, not Rafael Nadal ahead of final

If Ruud wins today he will take the biggest leap in points to go from world no. 7 to world no. 1. He has had a good year so far, getting into two Grand Slam finals – the French Open final, where Nadal crushed him to take his 22nd Grand Slam title and the US Open.