Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz has risen to the top of the tennis world on Sunday, claiming his first Grand Slam title and taking the number one ranking with a 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 win over Norway’s Casper Ruud in the U.S. Open final.
Alcaraz, 19, fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face before jumping up to embrace Ruud at the net.
“This is something I dreamed of since I was a kid, to be number one in the world, to be the champion at a Grand Slam,” Alcaraz said in an on-court interview.
“All the hard work that I did with my team, with my family. I’m just 19 years old so all of the tough decisions are with my parents and my team as well.
“This is something that is really, really special for me.”
“Bravo Carlitos!” was displayed on a banner inside the stadium for the native of El Palmar.
Alcatraz is the youngest world number one since the ATP rankings began in 1973, breaking the mark set by Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 when he became number one in 2001.
