It is hardly possible for Casper Ruud not to be a little annoyed when he wakes up in his hotel bed in New York this Monday. He was in his second Grand Slam final, where he had two set points that could have changed the outcome of the match and made him world number one. For a tennis player, it means almost everything, not immediately in money, but in prestige and position. No one can talk about participation, weather conditions, luck or anything else if you have been world number one in tennis. THE OPPORTUNITY MISSED: Casper Ruud must wait for the chance to be number one again. Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP A fateful backhand boom The one point that defined a new chapter in tennis history did not come in Sunday’s final. It was late on Wednesday evening, in the fourth set of the quarter-final between Italian Jannik Sinner and Spanish Carlos Alcaraz. Sinner leads 2–1 in the set and 5–4 in the game and has the match point in his own serve. The Spanish prodigy Alcaraz is currently on his way out of the tournament, and the way to top the world rankings is suddenly open to Norwegian Casper Ruud. But Skinner unmotivatedly hits a backhand far out, and Alcaraz is back in the game at the very last second. The Spanish teenage phenom seizes the opportunity greedily, wins the game and then turns the match to win 3-2 in sets. The match lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes and did not end until 02:50 local time in New York. The semi-final lasted over four hours. In the third five-setter in a row for Alcaraz. Most people would have an exhaustion reaction. For Alcaraz, there are obviously no such restrictions. No one has ever been on court as long en route to a Grand Slam title as Carlos Alcaraz. 60 percent Alcaraz The movements and steps in the final against Norway’s hopes were as dynamic as they had been throughout the tournament. Swedish legend Mats Wilander calls him the most explosive player he has seen. And he is probably the only one who matches Casper Ruud in terms of physique and height in the absolute top of the world right now. This is what determines finals like yesterday. Alcaraz was the youngest man in a US Open final since Pete Sampras beat compatriot André Agassi in 1990. Such names are pure tennis poetry. PROUD: Juan Carlos Ferrero could cheer for the pupil’s Grand Slam victory. Photo: JULIAN FINNEY / AFP Alcaraz’s coach, the former great player Juan Carlos Ferrero, believes that the student is currently only at 60 percent of his capacity. For opponents, these are disturbing forecasts. Carlos Alcaraz is now the youngest world ruler ever – and everyone is wondering how long it will take before anyone will be able to push him down from the throne. BEAT: Casper Ruud lost, and had to see Carlos Alcaraz move up to first place in the ATP rankings. Photo: ELSA / AFP “The new man” on a revenge trip Perhaps the answer is closer than you think. One thing is a Casper Ruud who is constantly making progress, but what absolutely no one can write off yet is a player with a first name that means “he new”. Nothing could be further from the truth. But here there is still a certain symbolism in it. For Serbian Novak Djokovic, he would still be crowned at the top of all lists had he not missed two of this year’s Grand Slam tournaments because he does not want to get vaccinated. Instead, he won Wimbledon in superb fashion, but without getting the valuable ranking points he would normally have earned. These were very controversially disqualified from the tournament because they refused Russian and Belarusian participation WORLDS: Novak Djokovic had to see himself pushed down from the ATP throne after the US Open. Photo: DADO RUVIC / Reuters Now it’s time for revenge. For Casper Ruud’s chances of finally becoming the best, it is not too good news. Djokovic has been number 1 in the world for 373 weeks, more than any other male player. And is determined to become one again as soon as possible. The worthless respect But had the Italian Jannik Sinner hit with this one backhand, the world number one in tennis this Monday would have been called Casper Ruud and would have been from Norway. It is a moment that would have been written in gold in Norwegian sports history. Now it was almost, despite an almost unreal performance by a Norwegian. After 200 minutes and 40 games, the final was over. Instead, he is left with a lot of respect, for his behavior on and off the field, but also guaranteed to have a not inconsiderable amount of irritation. Because respect is not what tennis players live for. No one talks about respect for those who win the biggest titles. It gives itself. Casper Ruud’s success has come through diligent work and training to improve those aspects of the game that until this year have not been good enough to match the very best. Which has taken his backhand from being an obvious weakness to an effective weapon. Which has made his volley game almost artistic at times. And which has led him to a Grand Slam final on a surface no one thought he mastered well enough. But which still did not hold up against a Spanish unique. And where he will take further steps to beat a Serbian giant in the short term. Home for tributes in Håkon’s hall Now Ruud is going home to Norway and Lillehammer to play the Davis Cup for his home country. Opponent India is actually a nation that has a whopping 30 Grand Slam titles in tennis. All titles are taken in doubles or mixed doubles. The tennis nation of India has realized that it is a matter of focusing on performing where the chances are greatest. Casper Ruud will use the opportunity to receive his tribute. He has made Grand Slam finals the new normal in Norwegian tennis and is number 2 in the world. FIGHTING BRAVELY: But the dream of world number one was dashed this time. Photo: ELSA / AFP Which is one step away from where he wanted this Sunday evening in New York, where it all ended in an arena illuminated by the words “Bravo Carlitos”. But there was consolation to be had in the stands for Casper Ruud as well. Among the super celebrities who are always present during such events, it was also possible to glimpse 80s British pop hero Rick Astley. RICKROLL: Rick Astley wasn’t fooling anyone when he was in the crowd during the US Open final. Photo: ELSA / AFP Is it permissible to think that Casper Ruud is calmly walking around Manhattan this Monday and is annoyed by the chance that disappeared while humming Astley’s smash hit “Never gonna give you up”? I think so.
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Casper Ruud – one ball away from being the best in the world – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
