Carlos Alcarath and Casper Rudd cross swords at Arthur Ashe (11 p.m.) in the US Open final. A pair that many would love to see in Sunday’s fight, not for the name but for the motivation.

The grand final will be broadcast live on Eurosport1, while you can follow the course of the big duel live in Sportish’s Match Center.

Well, as things have played out at this year’s US Open, Alkarath and Rudd will be stepping onto the mainstay of the US Open with exactly the same motivations: capturing the 1st Grand Slam of their careers, but also rising to No. 1 in of the world! A! Yes, of course, and for the…$2.6 million in pocket money that the winner receives.

Based on the above, it’s a final where the winner takes it all while the loser… is constrained by the memory of the 1st Grand Slam final of his career, with world no. 2 going to be a career highlight anyway and with the 1.3 m. Dollars collected by the finalist.

If Alcarath wins, the 19-year-old Spaniard will become the youngest player to reach world No. 1 (since 1973, when the ranking existed) and overtake Lleyton Hewitt (20 years and 9 months).

However, Rudd will also set a record if he wins the title on Sunday night as he becomes the first tennis player with the biggest position gain at No. 1. We remind you that before the tournament started, the Norwegian was world No. 7!

Biggest climbs to #1

• Carlos Moya: From #4 to #1 (3/15/1999)
• Andre Agassi: From #4 to #1 (05/07/1999)
• Pete Sampras: From #4 to #1 (11/9/2000)

How they made it to the finals

Alcarath may have started this year’s US Open… resting as it took just two sets in the debut against Sebastian Baez before the Argentine gave up, but from there… the karma turned.

Wins in 3 sets with Federtico Coria and Jenson Brooksby and then “hell” came! From the 4th round Alcarath has played three consecutive 5 sets matches, the highlight of course being against Shiner where he had to nullify a match point but also 5 hours and 15 minutes to break the Italian’s resistance.

Alkarath’s journey to the final

• R1: Sebastian Baez (Argentina): 7: 5, 7: 5, 2: 0 (Baez delay)
• R2: Federico Coria (Argentina): 6-2, 6-1, 7-5
• R3: Jenson Brooksby (USA): 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
• R4: Marin Cilic (Croatia): 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
• QF: Yannick Sinner (Italy): 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3
• SF: Frances Tiafoe (USA): 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3

In contrast, Rudd’s time on the court was more divided, with the only 5-set match the Norwegian has contested coming in the 3rd round against American Tommy Paul. However, the games in which he raised his level were undoubtedly those against Matteo Berretini, but also in the semifinals against Karen Khachanov.

Rudd’s Journey to the Finals

• 1R: Kyle Edmund (Great Britain) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2
• 2R: Tim van Richthofen (Netherlands): 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
• 3R: Tommy Paul (USA): 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-0
• 4R: Corentin Moutte (France): 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2
• QF: Matteo Berretini (Italy): 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(4)
• SF: Karen Khachanov (Russia): 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2

They meet again in the final

This won’t be the first time Alcarath and Roode have faced each other in a title match. In fact, this will be the second time this year that the two players will face off in the final after Miami, with the Spaniard winning 7-5, 6-4.

However, Alcarath also emerged victorious from the 2021 clash with the Norwegian in Marbella, where he prevailed 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

Overall, Alcarath has a record of 10:1 and 8:1 in the 5th set at the US Open, but also 22:7 in the four Grand Slams. For his part, Rudd has a 9-4 win/loss record at the US Open, 6-4 in the 5th set and 27-15 overall in Grand Slams.

Source: tennis24