Teenage superstar Carlos Alcaraz makes history with his first US Open title — and it’s only the beginning

NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz Lerma always told his grandson that to win tennis matches and to become the best player in the world, it would take “head, heart and courage.”

And in the course of the US Open men’s singles final on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz had to draw on those three to get past the valiant Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

With this victory, Alcaraz, 19, will become the first teenager to reach world No. 1 since the ATP rankings began in 1973.

It seems he’s just getting started — and he’s going to leave an indelible mark in this sport.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid — to be number one in the world, and champion of a Grand Slam is something I’ve worked really hard for,” Alcaraz said on court afterwards.

There were times during this final — mostly at the end of the second set — where Alcaraz looked flat. The triple-header of five-set matches leading up to this match looked to have taken their toll.

Towards the end of the third set, it looked like Ruud’s pinpoint accuracy could tip the balance in the favor of the Norwegian. But then Alcaraz — just like he’s done repeatedly here — found another level, won a remarkable point to take the set to a tiebreak and then blew Ruud away in that, 7-1.

The tide had turned, Alcaraz harnessed the energy of the crowd and it got him over the line in the fourth. Those heavy legs were light again, and Alcaraz was making the sorts of heavenly shots we’ve become accustomed to.

Alcaraz has the ability to make the unbelievable look almost normal. With all the snapping forehands, beautiful lobs and cutting volleys at the net, you have an eye-catching superstar who has the potential to be a mainstay in Grand Slam finals for the next 15 years.

When you look at certain shots from the past fortnight — like that behind-the-back shot against Jannik Sinner, and that point against Frances Tiafoe to take it to a first-set tiebreak where he somehow hit a forehand winner down the line from a ridiculous position of peril — Alcaraz has this ability to take all those watching completely into the moment, leaving jaws on the floor and arms involuntarily outstretched. That’s special.

The Spaniard was the heavy favorite for this final. And he delivered on the hype.

But that takes nothing away from Ruud, who threw everything at Alcaraz. His time will come in a Grand Slam. Having…