Spanish teenager Carlos Alcarat completed his meteoric rise to the top of the tennis world on Sunday, capturing his first Grand Slam title and finishing 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1) 6-3 ahead of Norway’s Kasper Rudd in final of the US Open.

Alcarat, 19, fell on his back and folded his arms in front of his face before jumping to hug Rudd in the net. He then walked past the photographers into the stands to celebrate in his box with his team.

“This is what I dreamed about since childhood, to become number one in the world, to become a Grand Slam champion,” Alcarat said on the court.

“I did all the hard work with my team, with my family. I’m only 19, so all the hard decisions are made by my parents and my team. It’s something really special for me.”

Well done, Carlitos! placed on a banner inside the court about the tennis prodigy from El Palmar.

The peppy Alkarat, who wowed fans at the two-week tournament in New York with his explosive speed, powerful forehand and acrobatic shooting, replaced Russian Daniil Medvedev at the top of the rankings.

He is the youngest number one in the world since the creation of the ATP rankings in 1973, beating the mark set by Lleyton Hewitt, who was 20 years old when he became number one in 2001.

Alcaraz had a tough road to the title. He bounced back from the break in the fifth set to beat Marin Cilicka in the fourth round, played the last closing match in tournament history, beating Italy’s Janick Sinner in four sets, and faced American Francis Tiafoe in the semi-finals.

“I always say there is no time for fatigue in the final round of a Grand Slam or any other tournament,” said Alcarat, who has played 23 hours and 40 minutes on the court in his seven matches. You must give everything you have.”

Rafa Nadal, the holder of a record 22 men’s Grand Slam titles, took to Twitter to congratulate his compatriot and predicted more success for him.

Source: Reuters.