What do 2022 US Open champions Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Martin Landaluce and Alex Eala have in common? They all have been – or are, in the case of Landaluce – ranked #1 on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. Here’s a look at how all four created their own record breaking performances over the past fortnight in New York…
JUNIORS
Martin Landaluce (pictured) has won his first Grand Slam Junior title at the age of just 16. His road to the title was not an easy one, with intense matches throughout the entire week, but the Spaniard peaked at the right time, breezing through the semifinal against top seed Daniel Vallejo (PAR) 6-3 6-2.
In the final, he faced the European 18 & Under Champion Gilles Arnaud Bailly of Belgium, who was playing his second Junior Slam final of the year. After a titanic battle, Landaluce wrote his name into the history books with a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-2 win.
We have been keeping an eye on the Spaniard for the past several months, as he has had notable results both on the Tennis Europe Junior Tour and the ITF Junior Tour. He’s the 2022 European 16 & Under Championships silver medalist and, together with his team, won this year’s 16 & Under Summer Cups.
"It was a great match. I've enjoyed it a lot. I tried to enjoy the final. It's a special moment, special tournament,” Landaluce told ATP Tour.com. “I tried one game plan at the beginning that went more or less good. But then in the third set I tried to change it, to be more solid, more consistent. I think that's what gave me the match, the win."
One of the first to congratulate Landaluce was Carlos Alcaraz, due to take part in the men’s final the next day. Emulating his record-breaking compatriot is Landaluce’s new goal. Anything is possible.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Eala became the first-ever Filipina to lift a junior Grand Slam singles trophy. Since racking up some impressive wins when first travelling to Europe - including Les Petits As and numerous Category 1 doubles titles - she has gone on to claim two Grand Slam junior doubles titles, the Australian Open in 2020 together with Priska Nugroho and the French Open last year with Oksana Selekhmeteva. She has proven again that she is an extremely strong opponent when playing singles, winning all her matches without dropping a set. Eala faced second seed and reigning Roland Garros champion Lucie Havlickova (CZE) in the final and claimed victory after a quick 6-2 6-4, making history for herself and her country.
DOUBLES
The Americans Nishesh Basavareddy and Ozan Baris secured the boys’ doubles title, playing a 6-1 6-1 final against Dylan Dietrich (SUI) and Juan Carlos Prado Angelo (BOL).
As for the girls’ draw, following the upset, Havlickova went back to the same court later that day and won the doubles final together with her partner Diana Shnaider. They faced the all-German team Ella Seidel and Carolina Kuhl and celebrated after a 6-3 6-2 triumph.
MEN
Once a 16 & Under European Junior Champion (in 2018), now a US Open winner and a world #1 – what a performance by Carlos Alcaraz! Surviving three consecutive five-set matches, against Marin Cilic, Jannik Sinner and Frances Tiafoe, Alcaraz was on court for a total of almost 24 hours during the tournament.
In the final he faced Norwegian Casper Ruud, in a battle between two players aiming for their maiden Grand Slam title and with the world #1 ranking on the line. The Spaniard’s run-around forehand deserves all the appreciation and might have been the key element that got him the title. Even though Ruud struck back to quickly win the second set, Alcaraz maintained the pressure, resisted his tiredness, and ended up being the one to break records, becoming the youngest top-ranked men’s player in ATP rankings history. All that, with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(1), 6-3 victory.
Alcaraz's win means that European players have now won 71 of the last 72 men’s Grand Slam singles titles.
WOMEN
Iga Swiatek proved once again what a force she is for women’s tennis. She began the year with a spectacular winning streak of 37 matches, which came to an end during Wimbledon’s third round. After that loss, she struggled for form, but arrived in New York determined to return to her invincible state. After an intense semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka, during which she was one set down, yet found the power to continue and reach the final, Swiatek faced Ons Jabeur and graciously won the Championship with a 6-2 7-6(5) victory that maintains her incredible streak of winning ten consecutive finals without losing a set. In doing so, she has become the first woman to win two grand slam titles in a year since Angelique Kerber in 2016 and takes her WTA ranking over the 10,000 points threshold, a feat only achieved by Serena Williams in the last decade.
DOUBLES
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova completed the Career Golden Slam in New York. The Czech duo won the US Open title against Caty McNally and Taylor Townsend 3-6 7-5 6-1 after having to fight back from 3-6 1-4. They have now all the major titles under their belts – Olympic Gold in 2020, Australian Open 2022, Roland Garros 2018 & 2021, Wimbledon 2018 & 2022, and US Open 2022.
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) became the men’s doubles champions at the US Open, for the second consecutive year. They faced Wesley Koolhof (NED) and Neal Skupski (GBR) in the final, winning 7-6(4) 7-5.
Aussie pair Storm Sanders and John Peers outlasted Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) and Eduard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 10-7 in the champion’s tie break to secure the mixed doubles title.
A tournament that began with much fanfare as the storied career of Serena Williams drew to a rapturous close ended with the smiling faces of the next generation demonstrating that the future of tennis is in good hands. The women’s final looks set to herald a long rivalry between the world’s #1 and #2 and two dominant players of 2022. And with the men’s finalists also now occupying the top two spots in the ranking, 2023 already looks to be an intriguing year for the sport.