Generational Rivalry: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner to clash in third straight major final at US Open

Three weeks ago in Canada, he spent his 100th consecutive week in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings since first breaking into the elite after the 2021 US Open.

And today at the US Open, he recorded the 200th tour-level win of his career.

The No. 5-ranked Norwegian reached the milestone with a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over American qualifier Emilio Nava in the first round of the last Grand Slam event of the year.

Ruud is the eighth man born in 1995 or later to hit 200 career wins, and just the second man born in 1998 or later to do it.

MEN BORN IN 1995 OR LATER WITH 200+ CAREER WINS (tour-level)
377: Alexander Zverev [born in 1997]
316: Daniil Medvedev [born in 1996]
289: Stefanos Tsitsipas [born in 1998] (playing tonight)
276: Andrey Rublev [born in 1997]
233: Karen Khachanov [born in 1996]
223: Taylor Fritz [born in 1997]
210: Borna Coric [born in 1996]
205: Nick Kyrgios [born in 1995]
200: Casper Ruud [born in 1998]

Ruud has reached three of the last six Grand Slam finals, as well as last year's ATP Finals final.

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Ruud, who’s reached the final at three of the last six Grand Slams—including a run to the final at the US Open a year ago, where he finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz—is now through to the second round in Flushing Meadows, where he’ll face China’s Zhang Zhizhen.

Zhang battled for almost four-and-a-half hours to defeat American J.J. Wolf in his first-round match, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3.

Ruud won the pair’s only previous meeting, rallying from a set down to prevail in the third round of Roland Garros earlier this year, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.