PARIS, France – Carlos Alcaraz, winning the 2022 United States Open at the age of 19, his first Grand Slam title, took the world No. 1 spot at the end of a fortnight in New York that confirms the arrival of a new class in men’s tennis.

Alcaraz becomes the youngest player to reach the top of the ATP since the rankings were created in 1973, a feat he owes to his final victory over Norway’s Casper Rudd.

At the age of 23, Rudd climbed five places to No. 2, a jump in the form of a warning to his rivals: reputed to be comfortable on clay, he has imposed himself on hard court this season and could become No. 1 if he had won on Sunday at Flushing Meadows.

Rafael Nadal, knocked out in the round of 16 at the US Open by American Frances Tiafoe, still remains in third place, just ahead of Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, who lost his crown after being knocked out at the same stage of the tournament . Australian Nick Kyrgios.

The 35-year-old Novak Djokovic is ranked 7th (-1), but he was not there to play for the title. And, more generally, his ranking in the pecking order has been distorted this season: the Serb was actually unable to defend his title in Australia or his points in the United States Open final because he refused to be vaccinated against COVID, while his coronation Wimbledon (21st Major, one length off Nadal’s record) counted for butter in the standings as no points were awarded there.

The Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime for his part dropped 5 places and now occupies the 13th level. His compatriot Denis Shapovalov follows in 24th place, down 3 places.

The explosive Tiafoe, 24, and the volcanic Nick Kyrgios, 27, (finalist at Wimbledon and quarterfinalist in New York), enter the top-20, ranked 19th and 20th respectively.

Russia’s Karen Khachanov, beaten in the quarter-finals by Casper Ruud, climbs 13 places to 18th after dropping out of the top-30 this season for the first time since 2018.

ATP Ranking:

1. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 6740 points (+3)

2. Casper Ruud (NOR) 5850 (+5)

3. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 5810

4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5065 (-3)

5. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5040 (-3)

6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4810 (-1)

7. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 3570 (-1)

8. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 3550 (+1)

9. Andrey Rublev (Russia) 3390 (+2)

10. Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3355

11. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 3200 (+2)

12. Taylor Fritz (USA) 3055

13. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 2950 (-5)

14. Pablo Carreno (ESP) 2510 (+1)

15. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2360 (-1)

16. Marin Cilic (CRO) 2345 (+1)

17. Diego Schwarzman (ARG) 2110 (-1)

18. Karen Khachanov (Russia) 1990 (+13)

19. Francis Tiafoe (USA) 1940 (+7)

20. Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 1780 (+5)