NEW YORK: Spanish youngster Carlos Alcaraz made it to his maiden Grand Slam final, with the third seed battling past home favourite Frances Tiafoe 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 in four hours and 19 minutes to set up a winner-takes-all US Open clash against Casper Ruud of Norway on Saturday (IST).
Ruud moved past Russia's Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to reach his second Grand Slam final, further boosting his chances of rising to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings.
Alcaraz, who too is in line to become the new No. 1 should he win the summit clash, is the second teen to make the US Open final in the Open Era, joining the legendary Pete Sampras of the US.
"To be honest in the semifinal of a Grand Slam you have to give everything... we have to fight until the last ball. It doesn't matter if we are fighting for five hours, six hours. It doesn't matter. You have to give everything on court," Alcaraz was quoted as saying by ATP.
"Frances (Tiafoe) gave everything on court. This is amazing."
Alcaraz has now won three successive five-setters lasting a total of 13 hours and 28 minutes, and if the Spaniard wins the title on Sunday, he will become the youngest world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings since 1973.
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