It is not so often that the quest for a first major title is coupled with that of accession to the throne of the ATP, in a single match.
And it is even rarer that this scenario concerns not only one of the two finalists, but both.
That could happen on Sunday.
But the Spanish phenomenon Alcaraz (4th in the world), emerged victorious from an epic 5h15 long standoff in the night from Wednesday to Thursday against the Italian Jannik Sinner, will first have to defeat in the evening the euphoric American Tiafoe (26th ) who continues to impress since he eliminated Rafael Nadal in the 8th and then Andrey Rublev in the quarters.
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In the meantime, the 23-year-old Norwegian (7th) has passed his penultimate obstacle.
He won 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 at the expense of Khachanov (31st), continuing his journey towards a destiny that he hopes to be golden this time at Flushing Meadows, three months after failing to win a first Major at Roland-Garros, where he could do nothing in the final against the ogre of ocher Nadal.
Roland-Garros could have been the only final of my career, but here I am again at this stage and I am very happy about it
Caper Ruud
“
I still had a very good game.
We were both very nervous at the start, but that's normal, we must not forget that it was for him as for me the most important match of our career.
Roland-Garros could have been the only final of my career, but here I am again at this stage and I am very happy
about it, ”he rejoiced hotly.
After an exchange of pleasantries, consisting of a successful break by one, immediately erased by the other, the first set ended in a decisive game.
Ruud escaped to lead 6-3, thanks to a high backhand volley after a first sent back by reflex, then concluded on his third opportunity, after a rally of 55 shots exchanged, thanks to a violent backhand long from line that pushed the Russian to the fault.
Read alsoUS Open: 55 exchanges at the end of the tie-break, the endless set point between Ruud and Khachanov on video
During this exchange, the Norwegian showed off his ability to defend very well, despite several attacks from his opponent, to ultimately counter.
He didn't have to work so hard in the next set, as there was only one man on the court, with Ruud winning 30 of 41 points contested and all of his shutout games.
“
I played fabulous tennis in the 2nd set
“, he agreed after the meeting.
In the third set, Khachanov nevertheless regained consistency in his game, especially in service, and was more aggressive, as he had been able to be in the previous round against the Australian Nick Kyrgios.
He was rewarded in the 12th game, converting his first set point on an opposing service.
Match restarted?
Not quite, because Ruud did not give his opponent time to believe in a fantastic comeback.
He snatched the serve twice in a row to escape 4-1, then held on to his advantage without shaking, finishing the deal in just over three hours on the Arthur Ashe.
Read alsoRoland Garros: Casper Ruud, child of the earth
A specialist in clay, on which he has won eight of his nine titles on the circuit, including three in 2022 in Buenos Aires, Geneva and Gstaad, with in the meantime a lost final at Roland-Garros against Rafael Nadal, Ruud passes a big cap on cement this season.
In April, he made it to the final at the Masters 1000 in Miami.
Ease confirmed at the Masters 1000 in Montreal in early August where he reached the last four.
In New York, he made his way rather quietly during the fortnight, pushed only once in five sets by the American Tommy Paul in the 3rd round, before raising his game more and more at the expense of the Italian Matteo Berrettini in the quarters, then against Khachanov.
Here he is at the gates of the greatest performance of his career.