“The most consistent player becomes the No. 1 in the world,” Mats Wilander short of words for Carlos Alcaraz after historic US Open title


“The most consistent player becomes the No. 1 in the world,” Mats Wilander short of words for Carlos Alcaraz after historic US Open title

Carlos Alcaraz and Mats Wilander

19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz is officially the new World No. 1 as he clinched the 2022 US Open title defeating Casper Ruud in the finals to win his first-ever Grand Slam title and also become the youngest World No. 1 since the ATP rankings were introduced for the first time in 1973.

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Alcaraz won the final 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 and become the centre of attention for the tennis community once again. The teenager proved his calibre after being held in high regards ever since the last season and now has Tour titles at all tiers, all before turning 20.

Also Read: “Why is he d***riding Alcaraz hard?” John McEnroe bashed for his biased commentary in the Carlos Alcaraz – Casper Ruud US Open final

“Carlos Alcaraz is not going anywhere for next 10 years,”: Mats Wilander

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

With great potential as a junior and having won Tour titles regularly both on clay and hardcourts, Alcaraz was seen as a favourite, given his rapid rise from being outside the Top-30 at the 2022 Australian Open to being the Top-10 seed at the 2022 French Open itself.

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With the absence of Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, Alcaraz was the 3rd seed this year and early defeats for defending champion Daniil Medvedev and 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz’s road to the title became easier and he did not mess up the chance.

“We will always remember this rise from Carlos Alcaraz. I will also always remember Casper Ruud for putting up a great fight, and for making two Grand Slam finals in 2022, now No. 2 in the world. Carlos Alcaraz, he said, was going to get to No. 1 at some point.

“But to see him do it here by winning is absolutely historic. Carlitos is so mature off the court and on the court – the two go hand-in-hand. He is unreal in his attitude – unreal. It is incredible. The most consistent player becomes the No. 1 in the world and Ruud becomes world No. 2.

“He is not going anywhere for the next 10 years,” said 7-time Grand Slam champion and 1988 US Open winner Mats Wilander speaking on Eurosport praising the teenager for a record-shattering victory and claiming the top spot in the rankings along with qualification for the ATP Finals.

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As Alcaraz now begins his first week as the World No. 1, heart goes out for Ruud as well who had to lose a second Grand Slam final but as they always say, to win a final you need to lose a final and given the all-round show Ruud has put across surfaces, one can be assured a major isn’t far for the Norwegian.

Also Read: Carlos Alcaraz applauded by Rafael Nadal and other tennis legends after he becomes the youngest player since his ‘idol’ to win a major title

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