When Winning The U.S. Open Also Means Becoming World No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud will play for the U.S. Open championship on Sunday afternoon in Arthur Ashe Stadium (4 p.m., ESPN).

Both Alcaraz, the 19-year-old from Spain, and Ruud, a 23-year-old Norwegian, are seeking their first major championship.

As if that weren’t enough motivation, it will mark the first time two men seeking their first major will battle in a Grand Slam final for the world’s No. 1 ranking.

Ruud is aiming to become the first Norwegian man to win a Grand Slam title, while Alcaraz seeks to become the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings at the age of 19 years and four months. Lleyton Hewitt was 20 when he became world No. 1 in 2001.

“I think what’s most fair is if we both reach the final and whoever wins the final reaches the world No. 1,” Ruud said after dispatching Karen Khachanov of Russia in the semifinals on Friday. “That would be I think the ideal situation.”

Alcaraz is 2-0 against Ruud, including a straight-sets win in the Miami Open final in March.

Ruud’s victory over Khachanov eliminated Rafael Nadal from contention for No. 1. Alcaraz ousted American Frances Tiafoe in a five-set thriller Friday, making Sunday’s final a winner-takes-all-clash for a Grand Slam trophy and World No. 1.

“It’s a final of a Grand Slam, fighting for the No. 1 in the world, something that I dream since I was a kid,” Alcaraz said.

“I mean, what I have to say? Is final of a Grand Slam. Right now I’m going to enjoy this moment. My first Grand Slam final.”

Both men had Saturday off to recover, and Alcaraz surely needed it.

After not dropping a set in his first three matches, he needed five sets each to dispatch Marin Cilic, Jannik Sinner (in a match that ended at 2:50 a.m. Thursday) and then Tiafoe.

“I would say now I’m more prepared [than last year],” said Alcaraz, who has spent 20 hours, 19 minutes on court in the tournament so far. “Last year I just played three Grand Slams before the U.S. Open, and I had just played, I’m going to say, one match of five sets. Now I’ve played more matches of five sets, I am more prepared mentally and physically.”

Alcaraz is 8-1 five-setters and feels confident knowing he’s 2-0 against Ruud.

“I feel capable of beating him again,” said Alcaraz. “He has already played a Grand Slam final, and for me everything will be new. But everything new in my career I have faced in a good way. I hope to do the same on Sunday. I’m going to try to show my best version.”

Ruud’s was crushed by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final in June, but the Norwegian believes that experience will help him Sunday.

“I mean, Roland Garros, the final, [Nadal] obviously gave me a good beating,” said Ruud. “After the final I said, If I ever reach one again, I hope it is not Rafa on the other side of the court in Roland Garros, because it’s sort of an impossible task I think for any player. I’m happy that it’s not Rafa on clay.

“I hope it can have prepared me a little bit. At least I know a little bit what I’m facing when I’m stepping on the court, seeing the trophy on the back of the court, seeing tons of celebrities. Even in Roland Garros, there were royal families there watching. That was a little bit new experience for me. I hope I can be more ready for that on Sunday.”

Ruud says his game plan is to be aggressive against Alcaraz, who combines incredible speed with concussive power and arguably the most deft drop shot in the men’s game.

“I think if I want to beat Carlos, I’ll need to play very precise with all the shots that I hit,” said Ruud. “Especially try to keep him a little bit further back in the court, to play with good depth and length on all my shots.

“If he steps in, he can do anything with the ball. He can rip a winner. He also has great touch with the dropshot. I think he has one of the best dropshots on tour. He can do both shots back and forth, it will sort of get you off guard sometimes with the dropshot.

“If you play with good depth and good length, it’s tougher to hit dropshots. That will be something that I will try to focus on.”