<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Spain's Carlos Alcaraz&nbsp; has won his first Grand Slam title and become the youngest male tennis player to secure the the world number one ranking.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 19-year-old beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the final of the US Open on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alcaraz is the youngest Grand Slam men’s champion since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open, and the youngest US Open champion since Pete Sampras in 1990.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is something that I dreamed of since I was a kid – to be number one in the world, to be a champion of a Grand Slam,” said Alcaraz, who fell to his back and cupped his hands to his face before jumping up to embrace Ruud at the net after winning the match.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He then climbed past photographers and into the stands to celebrate in his box with his team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is something that I worked really really hard for. It’s tough to talk right now, a lot of emotions.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alcaraz, who thrilled fans during the two-week tournament in New York with his acrobatic play, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is the youngest world number one since the ATP rankings began in 1973, breaking the mark set by Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 when he became number one in 2001.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alcaraz had a difficult path to the title and also claimed the record for most time spent on the court at a single Grand Slam event.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Most of the 23 hours and 40 minutes were taken up by the more than 13 hours it took him to play three successive five-setters to reach the final.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I always say that there is no time to be tired in the final round of a Grand Slam or any tournament,” said Alcaraz. “You have to give everything you have inside.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fellow Spaniard Nadal congratulated the player widely seen as his heir apparent.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Congratulations @carlosalcaraz for your first Grand Slam and for number 1, which is the culmination of your great season, which I am sure will be many more,” he tweeted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ruud was trying to become the first Norwegian to capture the top spot but was unable to match Alcaraz’s power.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A finalist at the French Open where he was beaten by Nadal, Ruud is now second in the world from number seven.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Today was a special evening for both Carlos and I. We knew what was at stake,” Rudd said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Number two is not too bad either. I will continue to chase for my first Grand Slam and the number one world ranking.” Source: Aljazeera</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>