US Open, day 8, LIVE: Medvedev lost and the new n. 1 will be the youngest in history, the second oldest or the first in a country without tradition

The defeat of the Russian Daniil Medvedev against the Australian Nick Kyrgios opened the race to succeed him as number 1 in the world ranking, with the US Open as the setting. The contenders? The one who may be the youngest in history to make it, the second oldest or the first in a country without tradition.

This Monday, at the US Open, two of them will play: the Spaniards Rafael Nadal (from 14:00 in front of the Frances Tiafoe restaurant) e Carlos Alcaraz (from about 9.15 pm against the Croatian Marin Cilic).

The remaining contender for the top of the standings is the Norwegian Casper Ruudwho this Sunday placed in the quarter-finals after beating the French Corentin Moutet and will be a rival of the Italian Matteo Berretti.

What are the alternatives? For Alcaraz, current number four in the ranking, it is mandatory to win the tournament. The Spanish player would be the youngest player in history to do so: the day of the final will be 19 years and 129 days.

Ruud, now seventh, must also take the title in New York if he is to be number one, but on one condition: that his rival in the final is not Nadal.

If Alcaraz and Ruud do not meet these conditions, the number one will go to the current number three, Nadal, for the first time since January 2020.

The Spaniard already appears, in fact, as the leader of the live ranking which is constantly updated, without waiting for the publication of the ATP every Monday. If confirmed, it would be the second longest in history to reach it after the Swiss Roger Federer, who did it in June 2020 with 36 years, 10 months and 16 days.

Daniil Medvedev will give up the world tennis throne later eleven consecutive weeks in that place, which had already occupied 14 days between February and March.

Swiatek, to go your own way

In the women’s draw, meanwhile, this Monday it will be up to Polish Iga Swiatek, current number 1, to continue her path towards the title. In the round of 16 you will face the German Jule Niermeier.

Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) will also perform against Jéssica Pagula (United States); Danielle Collins (United States) and Aryna Sabalenka (Russia); and Victoria Azarenka (Russia) against Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic).