Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud US Open 2022 Final Highlights: Alcaraz beats Ruud to claim 1st major, world no.1 ranking

Alcaraz errs on the drop shot attempt. Ruud pulls another stunning backhand winner on the kick serve before he is left dumfounded at Alcaraz's awesome backhand passing shot. Error on Ruud's forehand, and its deuce. Alcaraz gets BP opportunity. ACE! Deuce again. Holds eventually.

Alcaraz 6-4, 2-3 Ruud*

Alcaraz too has been on a serving spree here at the moment. He hasn't missed a first serve in a long time. Holds comfortably. 

Alcaraz* 6-4, 2-2 Ruud

Another comfortable hold of serve for the Norwegian. Casper Ruud has managed to remain drama-free on serve since being broken in the opening set, in what was his second service game in the match.  

Alcaraz 6-4, 1-2 Ruud*

Ruud goes all aggressive in his service games with big forehands to hold serve to 30. Alcaraz starts off with an ace, his fourth in the night, before holding to love. 

Alcaraz* 6-4, 1-1 Ruud

Alcaraz holds to love and comfortably takes the opening set 6-4. 

Alcaraz* 6-4 Ruud

Ruud holds to 15 and keeps the opening set alive. Alcaraz will now be serving to go a set up in the final. 

Alcaraz 5-4 Ruud*

Great sportsmanship from Ruud. He did not manage to reach for the volley from Alcaraz and the Spaniard did not notice and rather erred on his return. But Ruud called it out as Alcaraz's point and the 19-year-old applauded him. Alcaraz holds to 30 with a stunning backhand return down the line. 

Alcaraz* 5-3 Ruud

You are 40-0 up, why would you want to pull off those trick shots? Ruud wants to go for a tweener return and concedes the point. Holds eventually.

Alcaraz 4-3 Ruud*

Alcaraz has stuck to his Miami plan or rather the one that has helped him throughout this tournament - push the opponent back with his forehand and advance to the net with a volley. Wraps it up with an ace. 

Alcaraz* 4-2 Ruud

Quick hold for Ruud. And he stays in the contest. 

Alcaraz 3-2 Ruud*

A serve wide and forehand error puts Alcaraz 30-0 up before a stunning backhand volley return from Ruud gives the world no.7 some respite. Alcaraz then errs on drop shot attempt and then manages to outlast the Spaniard in an aggressive rally. The 19-year-old finally gets his drop shot accurate and Ruud fails to get his return perfectly in place. Alcaraz forces a deuce and  eventually holds.

Alcaraz* 3-1 Ruud

That return from Alcaraz hits the net, gets over the line. Ruud had advanced for the return, but was disguised by the net. Coast to coast Alcaraz dragged Ruud before outlasting the Norwegian. 40-0 up. A wild forehand from Alcaraz fails to find the line. 40-15 for him. Still BP opportunity. Alcaraz breaks. 

Alcaraz 2-1 Ruud*

Great backhand passing shot from Ruud and he goes 30-15 up. Another solid backhand winner from Ruud. Double BP for him. Alcaraz saves one with a serve wide. And then forces a deuce with a body serve. ACE to get the advantage. HOLDS SERVE. 

Alcaraz* 1-1 Ruud

Back-to-back nervous shots from Alcaraz to start with before he levels it at 30-all. That backhand return! He is standing well inside the baseline against that Ruud 2nd serve and the Norwegian had no answer. A forehand error from the Spaniard and its a deuce. Double fault from Ruud and a second BP for Alcaraz. SAVED! The backhand from Alcaraz rams against the net. Ruud sought to attack and advanced to the net and Alcaraz erred. Couple of these points help a player ease of those nerves. HOLD FOR RUUD!

Alcaraz 0-1 Ruud*

And so it begins! The blockbuster US Open final gets underway at Flushing Meadows. The winner gets his maiden Slam and the world no.1 ranking. 

“We will do pictures first,” says the umpire for the US Open final. The rules get explained once again. Time for the toss - Alcaraz wins the toss, and opts to receive. 

Casper Ruud makes his way into the Arthur Ashe stadium amid a loud cheer from the New York crowd. He is followed by Carlos Alcaraz. The cheer gets even louder! 

Two experts on Sony Sports Network have made their predictions for the final. 

Purav Raja: Casper Ruud in five sets

Somdev Devvarman: Carlos Alcaraz in four sets

Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won their first US Open double's title and third major of the year, completing the career Grand Slam by rallying to beat Americans Caty McNally and Taylor Townsend 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Alcaraz: 269/222

Ruud: 206/203

Alcaraz -

Receiving points won: 44%

1st serve return: 35.2%

2nd serve return: 56.2%

Break points won: 45/98

Ruud-

Receiving points won: 39.5%

1st serve return: 31.3%

2nd serve return: 51.3%

Break points won: 35/84

Alcaraz - 

1st serve in: 68.4%

1st serve win: 67.5

2nd serve win: 56.6

Break points saved: 39/60

Ruud -

1st serve in: 64.3%

1st serve win: 77%

2nd serve win: 56.5%

Break points saved: 27/41

Ruud is the first ever Norwegian player to have reached the US Open final.

At 19, he is the youngest major finalist since Nadal in 2005 French Open and US Open finalist since Pete Sampras in 1990. He is also the first player since Andre Agassi in 2005 US Open in men's tennis to have reached the final having won three straight five-setter ties.

“I mean, Roland Garros, the final, [Nadal] obviously gave me a good beating,” said Ruud. “After the final I said, If I ever reach one again, I hope it is not Rafa on the other side of the court in Roland Garros, because it's sort of an impossible task I think for any player. I'm happy that it's not Rafa on clay.

“I hope it can have prepared me a little bit. At least I know a little bit what I'm facing when I'm stepping on the court, seeing the trophy on the back of the court, seeing tons of celebrities. Even in Roland Garros, there were royal families there watching. That was a little bit new experience for me. I hope I can be more ready for that on Sunday.”