Match Highlights:
Overcome with emotion after his win, Alcaraz dropped to the floor as the crowd erupted around him. He then went up to his box and hugged his team, including Juan Carlos Ferrero.
“It is something I have dreamt of since I was a kid. To be No. 1 in the world, to be champion of a Grand Slam, is something I have worked really, really hard [for],” Alcaraz said.
“It is tough to talk right now, I have lots of emotions. This is something I have tried to achieve. All the hard work I have done with my team and my family.”
“I am just 19 years old, all the tough decisions have been with my parents and my team as well. It is something that is really special for me.”
“There is no time to be tired in the final rounds of a Grand Slam or in every tournament,” Alcaraz said. “You have to be ready and give everything you have inside. It is something I work really hard for.”
In total, Alcaraz spent more than 20 hours on the court to win his first Grand Slam. He is now the youngest male player in the history of tennis to reach World No1 at 19 years and 130 days.
He beat Lleyton Hewitt’s record of 20 years and 268 days. He also beat Rafael Nadal, who did not become World No.1 until he was 22 years 76 days old.
In addition to that, he is also the youngest male player to win the US Open title since Pete Sampras who also did it at 19 years old as well back in 1990.
When he arrived in New York, he was ranked No.4, he leaves it ranked No.1.
He is the fourth Spaniard to reach the top spot. The others are Nadal, Ferrero, and Carlos Moya.