It is the second grand slam final Ruud has lost this year, after the loss in the French Open.

Even then, a Spaniard stood for the opposition, when Rafael Nadal took home the championship in straight sets.

- We knew what we were playing for, what was at stake.

It's fun that both finalists are ranked first and second in the world.

I think it's fitting, I'm obviously disappointed that I'm not world number one, but number two is obviously good too, and I'll continue to chase first place and my first grand slam title, says Ruud in his speech after the match .

The US Open final was a much more even story than the French Open.

The combatants started by winning each set, and in the third it was Ruud's advantage.

But after losing the set point, Alcaraz managed to force a tiebreak, which he then comfortably took home.

It turned out to be decisive, and in the fourth set the Norwegian did not have much to counter.

Youngest world number one to date

The championship ended with a serve, then Alcaraz lay on his back on the court and hid his face in his hands, before there was a hug party in the stands.

The final scores were 6–4, 2–6, 7–6, 6–3 for Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz makes history by becoming the youngest male tennis player to become world number one at the age of 19.

He is, however, a bit short of the record holder Martina Hingis, who became world number one as a 16-year-old in 1997.

The question is whether it is a change of thrones witnessed on the men's side of tennis, which has long been dominated by Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Alcaraz is the youngest grand slam winner on the men's side since Nadal won the French Open at 19.

"A lot of feelings"

Alcaraz says that the title and becoming world number one has been the goal.

- It's something I've dreamed of since I was a small child, to be number one in the world, to become a grand slam champion is something I really worked hard for, he says from the pitch and continues:

- It is difficult to talk, there are so many emotions.

But a solid forehand and an eager pursuit of difficult balls that many others would drop, he is a bundle of energy on the court.

His total playing time during the tournament was close to a day, or more precisely 23 hours and 40 minutes spread over seven matches, of which a trio of five-setters before the final.

And for the first time during the tournament, the young Spaniard admits that he is a little tired.

- A little bit, he says with a smile and continues:

- I always say that it is not time to be tired during a tournament, you have to give everything on the field and give everything you have in you.

It is something that I work very hard for.

In addition to the honor, Alcaraz receives 2.6 million dollars (about 27.5 million kroner), twice as much as Ruud receives as runner-up.