Day 14 and the last day of the last grand slam of 2022. What a year of grand slam tennis it has been and what a way to end off with 2 players vying for their first grand slam and to become the new world number 1. The men’s final was between Alcaraz ,the 3rd seed who had played 3 five setters in a row before this final and 5th seed, Ruud who had played a great tournament and who had the advantage of playing a grand slam final already at this year’s French Open. After 2 holds of serve it was the 19 year old, Alcaraz, who was the first to break in this year’s US Open men’s final. Impressively he managed to back up the break with a hold but Ruud was beginning to play some great tennis. Ruud then held to love to make it 3-2. Ruud dropped just 2 points in his next 2 service games but sadly for Ruud he wasn’t able to bring up any break points for himself and now it was up to Alcaraz to serve out the opening set. Some might have thought that that would be a daunting task but amazingly it was his best hold of serve of the match so far as he held to love to lead the final by 1 set to love. Ruud though was playing a lot better and it looked like he could hit back in the 2nd set. At 2-2 in the 2nd set, Ruud had a tough hold but this was just what the Norwegian needed to turn the momentum as he then broke the Spaniard for the first time in the match to lead the 2nd set 4-2. Ruud then had another deuce game on serve but once again it was the Norwegian who came through it and now he was a game away from a set in this men’s final. Another deuce game, this time on Alcaraz’s serve and once again it was a few poor decisions from Alcaraz which allowed Ruud to break to win the 2nd set and square the match up at 1 set all. There was a lot riding on this 3rd set as both players knew they did not want to have to come back from 2 sets to 1 down. Slightly surprisingly considering how Ruud was serving in the 2nd set, it was Alcaraz who broke first in the 3rd set. He held and nearly broke Ruud who saved a break point before taking his service game to make it 2-1. It was then the Norwegian’s turn to break to tie it up at 2-2. Both players then held comfortably up to 4-4 where Ruud had to come through a deuce game to make it 5-4. Then there was 2 comfortable holds of serve to make it 6-5 to Ruud. An extremely pivotal game was then played when Alcaraz was serving to stay in the 3rd set. Alcaraz saved a set point with a forehand winner at 30-40 at 5-6. Ruud then saved to game points before conjuring up another set point. This time Alcaraz saved it with a smash winner after playing a gutsy point. Alcaraz didn’t thankfully for him have to save any more set points and he made it 6-6 in the 3rd set. In the breaker it was Ruud who won the first point before Alcaraz won the next 7 points in an impressive display to take the 3rd set and be 1 set away from being the new world number 1 and the new grand slam champion. Both players started the 4th set well but at 2-3 Ruud serving the match started to get away from Ruud when Alcaraz broke to lead 4-2. He then backed up the break and was now just a game away from winning. Ruud held impressively to love to make Alcaraz serve for the biggest win of his career. A fantastic game just proved the mental strength of the man as he served it out and was crowned the new US Open champion and the new world number 1! Well done to Ruud who becomes the new world number 2.

Onto the long awaited fantasy leaderboard.

In first place and taking home the grand prize of R1000 – Drop Shots on 275 points. They led from day 3 onwards. An impressive display from them.

In 2nd place was not 1 but 2 teams. In a joint 2nd after 14 days was ‘My Dream Team’ and ‘Eish’ who both will take home R375.

In 4th place moving up 2 places on the last day is ‘Gramps Grinders’ who win R100.

An coming in, in 5th place and the last prize position is ‘Body Shot‘ who take home R50.

Well done to those teams who picked both Swiatek and Alcaraz and are highlighted in blue. An impressive performace!

Well done to those who picked one of the winners. Either Swiatek or Alcaraz and are highlighted in yellow.

Those who picked none of the winners are highlighted in red.

Result of Men’s Final

• Alcaraz(3) beat Ruud(5) – 6-4; 2-6; 7-6(1); 6-3

Below is the team of the tournament and the best team of Females- Drop Shots

The Best Team of Males went to – ‘Another Try’

Lastly here is the best team that you could have picked.