The 2022 US Open has almost reached its business end as the men’s singles final awaits on Sunday, September 11 at the Flushing Meadows. This year’s final has seen two very interesting players qualify, Casper Ruud of Norway and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain. As they take on each other for the ultimate glory, the match will also decide who will become the ATP top-ranked player.

Casper Ruud defeated Karen Khachanov of Russia in the semifinal on Friday night, September 9, to qualify for the final. He defeated Khachanov, who beat Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios in the quarterfinal, with a score of 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. He also became the first-ever Norwegian men’s player to qualify for the US Open.

Also Read: US Open 2022: Casper Ruud’s road to the final

On the other hand, Carlos Alcaraz defeated American star Frances Tiafoe in the semifinal on the same day, beating him 6(6)-7(8), 6-3, 6-1, 6(5)-7(7), 6-3 to become the second teenager since 1990 to qualify for the final. The Spanish teenager also became the youngest men’s player to qualify for a Grand Slam final since Rafael Nadal in the 2005 French Open.

When the two stars meet, the winner will become the World No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Casper Ruud is eyeing to become the first Norwegian to become the ATP top-ranked player, while Alcaraz is also trying to become the youngest world no.1 in the history of the sport. The current record of the youngest player to become ATP no. 1 is held by Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, a feat he achieved when he was 20 years and 8 months old.

However, despite the outcome of the US Open men’s singles final on Sunday, both players will end up with their career-best rankings.

Also Read: US Open 2022: Carlos Alcaraz’s road to the final

But it seems that Casper Ruud has a little more at the stake to win the match. He will qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals if he manages to emerge victorious in the match. Only two singles players have qualified for the tournament till now, the Spanish duo of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

Ruud has registered 42 tour-level wins in 2022, six less than Carlos Alcaraz (48) and four less than Stefanos Tsitsipas (46). He has won titles in Buenos Aires, Geneva and Gstaad this year and qualified for the Miami Open and French Open finals.