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Spanish tennis sensational Carlos Alcaraz has admitted that he may have been “lucky” to have won the US Open given the absence of Novak Djokovic. And the 19-year-old also suggested that he could be fortunate to play the majority of his career in an era where the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are past their sparkling best. Alcaraz claimed his first Grand Slam title on Sunday as he saw off Norwegian Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe in New York. The teenager also made history by becoming the youngest ever ATP No.1 thanks to his win, beating Lleyton Hewitt’s record set in 2001 when the Aussie reached the top at the age of 20.The sky now appears to be the limit for the youngster, with some suggesting he could finally be the star to break up the long-running dominance of the ‘Big Three’ and take men’s tennis by storm.However, certain circumstances have definitely been in Alcaraz’s favour. After winning Wimbledon in July, Djokovic was unable to take part in the US Open due to the country’s strict rules over the Covid vaccine. Federer, meanwhile, missed out through injury, and Nadal was knocked out by Frances Tiafoe in the last-16, with Alcaraz’s compatriot looking like the years are finally catching up with him. Speaking in an interview with The New York Times after his win against Ruud, a modest Alcaraz confessed that he felt he had had the rub of the green – firstly because of Djokovic’s absence in the States, and secondly because he has not had to face the ‘Big Three’ at their peak.“Look, I don’t want to take credit away from myself,” he said. “But it’s true that Rafa, Djokovic, Federer, they were in a period when they were all playing. I had the luck or whatever you want to call it that Djokovic could not play. Everybody has their reasons, but that is the reality.”He could not play much for a while, and Rafa kept playing but not all year, either. But like I said, I don’t want to take credit away from myself. I have been playing all season, playing incredible matches and incredible tournaments, and I’ve worked really hard so that things like this could happen.”Both Nadal and Djokovic have already congratulated Alcaraz for his recent achievement. The latter tweeted just moments after he had sealed victory in the final, saying: “Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz for your first Grand Slam and for number 1, which is the culmination of your first great season, which I am sure will be many more! Great effort Casper Ruud, very proud of you! Tough luck today but amazing tournament and season! Keep going!”Djokovic, meanwhile, took to Instagram to post a story dedicated to Alcaraz. He shared a picture of him in Times Square with his US Open trophy and wrote: “Enhorabuena (congratulations) Carlos.“Congratulations @carlitosalcarazz for your first Grand Slam. Amazing performance.”
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