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Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud are both future starts of the sport, but circumstances had them arrive early as they battled for the US Open title with the World #1 ranking on the line as well. This tournament saw multiple early upsets, plus no Novak Djokovic (who cannot enter the United States as he is not vaccinated), so the draw was very open. These two men–both certain future stars–took full advantage, reaching the final. For Alcaraz it was the first of what will be many Major finals. For Ruud, his second–he reached the final of the French Open earlier this year (lost to Nadal). That didn’t matter, though, as it was pretty clear who was the better player on the day.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Casper Ruud
The match started slightly nervy, though neither player was particularly poor. Neither serve was dominant, and mistakes crept into rallies from each player. Ruud eventually gave up an early break, which he was never able to get back. An exciting set, full of exciting points, ended 6-4 in favor of the Spaniard. History looked on its way for the Juan Carlos Ferrero protege, and it was unclear what would stop it.
Ruud was not playing poorly, but he did not quite seem at his best. The Norwegian moved well and played with good depth, but his characteristic elite groundstrokes weren’t full there. Then he seemed to turn the match around with this point:
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After that, a winded Alcaraz missed a volley, and Ruud capitalized to take the next two points and the break. He didn’t let off, even with a shaky following game. The Norwegian held, then he broke Alcaraz yet again to take the second set 6-2. We were all even at one set apiece.
Ruud could not keep the momentum up to begin the third set. He immediately fell down 0-40, and while he saved two break points he couldn’t save the third. The match became a far more tactical one, with both men content to keep the ball deep and play extended rallies–though Ruud was more defensive than Alcaraz for a while. It was effective for Ruud to end the second set, and it was effective again to earn the break back and tie the third set at 2-2. The set continued apace, with changing tactics and interesting points, until the 5-6 game. Alcaraz served to stay in the set, and the match really took off. The pair played numerous highlight-reel points in a game that lasted about ten minutes, where the Spaniard saved two set points before holding to force a tiebreak.
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The tiebreak, unfortunately, was nowhere near as thrilling as the set. Alcaraz did fine on his serves while Ruud sprayed errors on three of his, giving the Spaniard a 7-1 win in the tiebreak. Alcaraz was now one set away from history.
Both players served well to start the fourth set, but Alcaraz had the crowd firmly behind him and could sense the coming win. In the sixth game, he pounced. Three massive returns set up points, and one poor error from Ruud at 30-30 was all it took. Alcaraz had a 4-2 lead and just needed to hold twice more to win the US Open.
Ruud fought, but the teenage Spaniard brought out huge serve after huge serve when it mattered most. Three games later, “Carlitos” had a 6-4 2-6 7-6(1) 6-3 victory and was a Grand Slam champion.
What’s Next?
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Perhaps some will question whether Alcaraz really deserves this #1 ranking. After all, Novak Djokovic would certainly still be #1 had the Serbian not missed most of the season due to vaccination requirements. It doesn’t really matter, though. Alcaraz was always going to get to #1 eventually, and the record books will always show that he–no longer Lleyton Hewitt–is the youngest #1 in ATP history. (Martina Hingis holds the record for youngest #1 ever; she was just 17 when she became WTA #1.)
Djokovic will likely be back next year, so it’s possibly too early to expect Alcaraz to dominate the Tour as so many expect him to eventually. The young Spaniard will have his chances, though, and expect him to be a serious factor in every big tournament for years to come. And with the way Casper Ruud performed this week (and all year), expect the Norwegian to be one as well.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
