Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has reflected on a 'crazy' few weeks which saw him become the youngest ever men's world number one after his first major title victory at the US Open.
The 19-year-old defeated Casper Ruud 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 in Sunday night's final at Flushing Meadows winning £2.23million. Fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal also won his first of 22 Grand Slam titles at the age of 19 when he won the French Open in 2005.
Alcaraz, who made his debut in the ATP Tour aged 16, came into the US Open after making a career best quarter-final in the French Open this year. After winning his first major and reaching world number one the Spaniard has his eye on more success.
"Well I have one," Alcaraz said. "He (Nadal) has 22. I’m on the way.
"Right now I’m enjoying the moment. I’m enjoying having the trophy in my hands. Of course I’m hungry for more. I want to be at the top for many, many weeks. I hope many years.
"I’m going to work hard again after this week. I’m going to fight to have more of this."
Alongside his 22 Grand Slam titles Nadal, aged 36, has been world number one for 209 weeks during his career. His US Open challenge ended in the fourth round with a defeat against American Frances Tiafoe.
Nadal congratulated his countryman on Twitter stating: "Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz for your first Grand Slam and for number one, which is the culmination of your first great season, which I am sure will be many more!"
Alcaraz was made to dig deep for his US Open victory coming out victorious in five-set matches against Marin Cilic (fourth round), Jannik Sinner (quarter-final) and Frances Tiafoe (semi-final) before beating Rudd in four sets in the final.
"This is something which I dreamt of since I was a kid, being number one in the world and a champion of a Grand Slam,’ Alcaraz added.
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"It is something I have worked very hard for. It is really, really special. It’s crazy for me. I never thought I was going to achieve something like this at 19 years old."
Meanwhile, Nadal faces an uncertain future in the sport deciding to take some time away to spend with his family after a US Open fourth round defeat to American Tiafoe.
Afterwards he said: "Right now what I have to do is go home, I have much more important things to attend to than tennis. It's been a few months a little difficult in every way, this is the reality.
"And from there, start again professionally speaking and, on a personal level, finish with something that is important in my life, which is having my first son and trust that everything will turn out well."
