Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Casper Ruud, of Norway, in the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
US Open 2022 Final Live, Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud Live Score Streaming and Updates: The stakes could not be higher in Sunday’s Flushing Meadows final between Spanish teenage phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz and Norwegian Casper Ruud, with the U.S. Open trophy and the world number one ranking awaiting the winner. Norwegian Casper Ruud reached his second Grand Slam final this year, beating Russian Karen Khachanov.
Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest man in a final at Flushing Meadows since Pete Sampras won the 1990 U.S. Open at 19, and the youngest in any major title match since Nadal won the 2005 French Open at that age. Who will win tonight?
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In a high-stakes singles final on Sunday, the winner will claim his first Grand Slam title and also become the new World No. 1; an opportunity to achieve two huge milestones at once. (AP)
By the looks of it, the Spaniard will win many more on this stage. One that he has seemed he has always belonged on. His reign begins today.
"Dreamt since I was a kid to be World No. 1, champion of the world, champion of Grand Slam. It's tough to talk right now," the Spaniard said.
"Carlos and I knew what's at stake here. In a way it's fun, it's fitting that the finalists here will be No. 1 and No. 2 tomorrow... I'm disappointed, but No. 2 is a good number too," he said.
"Before we talk about tennis, I just wanted to say something as I know it's an emotional day for Americans on this date," he said on-court.
Ruud was brilliant in neutralising Alcaraz's game, and led the way for much of the contest. He lacked the clutch play, but still an outstanding tournament for him in a season that has seen him reach two Grand Slam finals and ascend to World No. 2.
The Spaniard's rise this year has been historic. Two Masters 1000s, a Grand Slam, and the World No. 1 spot.
He is not just the future of tennis. He is the present.
Carlos Alcaraz goes into the history books. Becomes the first teenager to ever be World No. 1. Unbelievable achievement for a generational talent.
The 19-year-old gets through Ruud, whose incredible performance in the second and third set was mulled by Alcaraz by clutch play in the tiebreaker and throughout the first set.
Love hold for Ruud.
Alcaraz serves for the championship now.
Alcaraz one game away from his first Grand Slam title.
Massive pressure on Ruud's shoulders now.
Alcaraz breaks!
The depth of his returns really hurt Ruud, who has not seemed the same player he was for the rest of the match in the fourth set.
Match on Alcaraz's racquet now.
On serve in the fourth. Ruud looking the nervy one now.
The Spaniard wins a set of exceptional quality. He showed tenacity to dig himself out of a hole in his final service game and took advantage of Ruud's errors in the breaker to storm through 7-1.
Ruud was the better player in that set. Can he reset now?
Alcaraz with some impressive tennis, including an absolutely clutch volley down set point and a couple of impossible gets at game point, to force this into a tiebreaker.
He's lost all four of his sets in the last two matches in the breaker, needs to improve that record here.
The level has gone through the roof, especially compared to the cagey early stages.
Ruud has upped the ante today, and Alcaraz's gets are not failing to shock. They play an outstanding rally with shots coming off the net and their racquet frames.
The level of tennis in the latter stages of this fourth set has been very high.
Ruud in a very stable place. Up 6-5 on serve.
Ruud holds his serve, albeit shakily. Alcaraz, clearly fatigued, needs something to reignite his spark. Will serve to stay in the third.
Incredible point.
Ruud won, but Alcaraz refused to go down. That may shift the momentum back into his stride. The crowd's energy is resurfacing with Alcaraz's.
Still on serve in the third.
The last few matches seem to have taken their toll on Alcaraz, but he is still well-placed in this final.
Ruud breaks back!
The 23-year-old's variety is hurting Alcaraz, it's asking questions of his court positioning and shot selection. The Spaniard needs to limit his errors.
Wow.
Ruud with an outstanding drop shot and backhand lob, only necessitated thanks to Alcaraz's ridiculous court coverage. The Norwegian's one-upping his opponent in putting on a show. Alcaraz up to 2-0 in the fourth.
Alcaraz with an immediate response. Breaks in the first game of the third set.
The Spaniard was very impressive from the baseline, the intent is greater, and the drop shot - which has not fired well today - comes up for him on the break point.
Ruud takes the second set!
The Norwegian showed an impressive handle on his nerves to save a break point on his own serve, before making Alcaraz pay for his errors and win a fourth game in a row. Will the momentum shift?
Ruud breaks for the first time today! The Norwegian has been solid from the baseline. He showed unbelievable court coverage across the baseline throughout that game, and footspeed to get to Alcaraz's drops. Big one for him, may kick things into action.
What a point. The Spaniard gets the ball back into play thrice when he was already beaten. Ruud was impressive to stay cool and finish the point. One for the highlight reel of this match.
The quality of the tennis just went up a few notches as Ruud won his game to keep it on serve.
Alcaraz hit two exquisitely-timed drop shots, and won went out by a whisker. He then hit three huge backhand passing shots consecutively to create his first break point. Ruud needed big serves to get him out of trouble.
Both players hold serve with relative ease.
Ruud gets off to a big start. Impressive serve and first strike forehand combination. Likely to see him go for more of those as the match wears off.
Alcaraz will need to angle his returns into Ruud's backhand to prevent that. He is not able to get them over the net every time he has tried it so far.
Alcaraz takes the first set!
The Spaniard made the best of his early break, but Ruud has grown into the match. Time for him to start flexing his muscles - and forehand - before Alcaraz piles on too much pressure.
Alcaraz's net game has been the most impressive aspect of his tennis today.
Ruud races through his service game. Alcaraz will serve for it. Will he keep a hold of his nerves to take the first set?
Alcaraz holds impressively. A big backhand winner down the line to win it too. An extremely important shot for the Spaniard today, with Ruud running around his backhand all the time, will leave that space open on court.
The Norwegian won a point on Alcaraz's serve, but the ball bounced twice before he got to it and the linesmen did not call it. Ruud let the point replay. Even more special to see that in a Major final.
Both players hold serve comfortably.
Ruud's second serve is gaining as much purchase as his first. He also tried a baseline tweener, if that's anything to go by where his mindset is. Can he break back?
Alcaraz navigated a tricky game to consolidate his break before Ruud win his serve to love. He needs to get into a rhythm with his forehand.
Alcaraz draws first blood! Breaks Ruud by winning eight of the last nine points, the only point he lost was a wild error.
Ruud holds serve in a testing first game.
The 2022 US Open men's singles final kicks off. Lots on stake here.
Match start is imminent.
Alcaraz has won both of the pair's previous meetings, but Ruud has the greater best-of-five experience.
The stakes are high as Alcaraz and Ruud fight for two of the biggest achievements in sport at once.
READ: As Alcaraz, Ruud face off in a winner-takes-all final, more than bragging rights at stake
Alcaraz has come into the final on the back of three consecutive five-set thrillers against Marin Cilic, Jannik Sinner, and Frances Tiafoe.
The Norwegian was in a tricky section of the draw, that opened up with early defeats to Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Welcome to The Indian Express' coverage of the men's singles final of the US Open. Carlos Alcaraz, vying to be the first teenager to become World No. 1, takes on Casper Ruud, in his second Grand Slam final of the year. Stay tuned.