It started as a 5-way battle. Now it’s down to 2. Medvevdev, Nadal, Alcaraz, Tsitsipas, Ruud all had equal say to it.
Before the start of the US Open, everyone knew that the winner would be ranked No.1, which added another spice to the tournament.
As the defending champion and current No.1, Medvedev was touted as the favourite by many. But his pursuit to keep hold of both the crown and throne was ended by a gorgeous Kygrios in the 4th round.
Tsitsipas stumbled in the very first step, as he couldn’t get past Round 1, the first big upset of the tournament.
After Medvedev’s departure, Nadal seemed to be the clear favourite. Nevertheless, not for more than 24 hours. A dazzling homeboy, Francis Tiafoe, undid Nadal.
Since then, the race was between Alcaraz and Ruud. And till the last day, the race is theirs. It was not easy for either of them.
After getting off of Baez, Coria and Brooksby, Alcaraz faced one of the four former champions of the US Open, Marin Cilic, in the round of 16.
From then, it was a huge uphill climb. He beat Cilic in a 5-game thriller.
His next opponent was Sinner, with whom he was expected to create a rivalry similar to Fede-Rafa. However, in a match in which Sinner was ahead most of the time, Alcaraz’s grit won him another 5-set thriller.
Up next, he was against Nadal slayer Tifaoe. It was not supposed to be easy, and it wasn’t. It was another 5-set thriller, his 3rd in a row.
With this, at 19 years and four months, he becomes the youngest player to reach a final since Nadal at the 2005 French Open.
Also, he is the youngest to play in a US Open final since Pete Sampras in 1990.
On the other hand, Ruud had it a bit easier than Alcaraz. Three of his first four opponents were unseeded. Heavyweights in his half, like Medvedev, Kygrios, Murray, and Tsitsipas, all were out of the tournament before he faced them.
Yet the way he dominated opponents like Khachanov and Berrettini, the reasons why the names above were out so early, makes him a worthy opponent.
When you think of it, out of the 5, this US Open would matter the most to these 2. Whoever wins it will kiss his first Grand Slam trophy.
If Alcaraz wins, he becomes the youngest player to be No.1 in the ATP ranking.
If Ruud wins, he becomes the 1st ever Norwegian to be No.1 in the ATP ranking.
The Flashing Meadow tennis court is all set for an exciting clash between two emerging stars of the game.
