Carlos Alcaraz secures yet another career-high ranking with US Open campaign
Carlos Alcaraz has ensure that he will enjoy a new career-high ranking of at least third in the world after making it to the quarter-finals of the US Open for the second time.
In the bigger picture, the 19-year-old also made sure that there will be a new Major champion in the US Open men’s singles by defeating the last Slam champion standing in 33-year-old Marin Cilic, the 2014 winner in New York.
Alcaraz is up to second in the live ATP rankings, only trailing idol and double Slam champion this year Rafael Nadal. However, seventh ranked Casper Ruud will leapfrog the young Spaniard should he beat Matteo Berrettini to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
“I believe in myself all the time,” Alcaraz said in his post-match interview after downing Cilic in the early hours on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Any of Nadal, Alcaraz or Ruud could be world number one after the US Open.
It will be Nadal if neither of Alcaraz or Ruud reach the championship match. Otherwise, if Alcaraz wins the title or loses in the final to someone besides Ruud, he will top the rankings, and if Ruud wins the title or loses to a player other than Alcaraz in the final it will be the Norwegian in top spot.
That gives both Alcaraz and Ruud the rare chance to become the first man to be world number one without a Major title to his name since Marcelo Rios claimed that status in 1998.
Whilst Ruud battles Berrettini for a spot in the last four, Alcaraz takes on fellow young gun Jannik Sinner for the same honour, a third tour level meeting between the pair in a 1-1 head-to-head.
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