US Open violates tradition. It was the first Major to introduce a final set tiebreak in 1970. It was the first to give equal prize money to men and women in 1973. This year, it became the first player to start coaching during matches. There is also a different kind of non-conformity; Flushing Meadows is not the property of a single male player. Since January 2006, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros and Wimbledon have collectively seen only five different winners. There have been 10 at the US Open in the same amount of time, the last of which is Spanish sensation Carlos AlcarazCrowned King of New York on Sunday after a four-set win over Norway’s Casper Roode. The victory propelled the 19-year-old Alcaraz to the top of the ATP rankings, making him the youngest person to reach the top. He is also the first teenager since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open to win a Grand Slam tournament. The title run was Alkraj’s baptism with fire. Before the final, he had spent more than 20 hours on the court and had to battle three tough five-setters that ended at midnight. Roode, known for his consistency and court coverage, had previous experience in a major final (2022 French Open). But Alcaraz did not face dismay, displaying the same spirit as he won the Madrid Masters in May by defeating Alexander Zverev after registering consecutive victories over Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Circumstances played a part in the ascent of Alcaraz. Djokovic was awarded no points for his Wimbledon win and was then barred from entering the United States due to his unaffiliated status, which eased his path. Although he undoubtedly plays first-strike tennis of the highest order, there may be contemporary equalizers. Jannik Sinner, after all, was match-point in the fourth set of his quarterfinals. But no player in recent memory has combined such fine qualities – shot-selection, flair and a complete absence of big-match nerves – into a package as good as Alcaraz. Even as the Spaniard begins to churn out the top of the men’s game, the women’s side appears to be settling in, with a dominant force and a pecking order emerging. Undisputed world No. 1 Inga Swietake captures her first US Open since the first week of April – second Grand Slam title in 2022 after Paris and third overall – while Ons Jabur scored his second straight final. Although Naomi Osaka’s slam count (four) is high, Swatek’s astonishing all-court skills make her the ideal candidate to be the next figurehead. As Serena Williams heads toward retirement—a third-round loss in New York appears to be her last stand—it finally feels like the passing of the baton.