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Alcaraz and Ruud must make final to have a chance
Rafael Nadal’s fourth-round US Open loss has opened the door for Carlos Alcaraz or Casper Ruud to leave New York as the No. 1 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

Alcaraz or Ruud must make the final to have a chance of reaching the pinnacle of men’s tennis. If neither does so, Nadal will return to World No. 1. If Alcaraz and Ruud meet in the championship match, the winner will take home the trophy and the top spot.

The tournament began with five players battling for World No. 1: Nadal, Alcaraz, Ruud, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Nadal, Medvedev and Tsitsipas failed to reach the quarter-finals. Alcaraz faces Marin Cilic in the fourth round on Monday evening.

Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings Round By Round

Player R4 QF SF F Title
Rafael Nadal 5,810 - - - -
Carlos Alcaraz 4,920 5,100 5,460 5,940 6,740
Casper Ruud - 5,010 5,370 5,850 6,650
Alcaraz and Ruud both have an opportunity to make history at Flushing Meadows.

If Alcaraz climbs to World No. 1, at 19 years, four months he will become the youngest player to hold the top spot in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history (since 1973). The current record is held by Lleyton Hewitt, who became World No. 1 at 20 years, nine months.

Ruud, who began the US Open at No. 7 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, is trying to become the first Norwegian to reach the pinnacle of men’s tennis. He is up to No. 4 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

If neither Alcaraz or Ruud make the final, Nadal will return to World No. 1 for the first time since 4 November 2019 when he held it for 13 weeks until 2 February 2020. It would be the Spaniard’s ninth stint atop the sport.

The battle for the No. 1 spot in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings has been one of the most interesting storylines of this US Open. On Friday, it could be decided.

If Casper Ruud loses to Karen Khachanov in the first semi-final and Carlos Alcaraz falls to Frances Tiafoe, Rafael Nadal will return to World No. 1 for the ninth time. If Alcaraz or Ruud win, Nadal will be eliminated from contention.

If Alcaraz and Ruud both advance to the final, everything will be at stake on Sunday. The Spaniard and Norwegian would be playing for their first Grand Slam trophy and World No. 1. If one of them wins his semi-final and the other doesn't, the player who reaches the final will be World No. 1 on Monday.

Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings Round By Round

Player R4 QF SF F Title
Rafael Nadal 5,810 - - - -
Carlos Alcaraz - - 5,460 5,940 6,740
Casper Ruud - - 5,370 5,850 6,650
After 3:30 a.m. on Thursday morning following his epic five-set quarter-final thriller against Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz was asked by a reporter if his opportunity to reach World No. 1 had entered his mind during the match.

"I just was thinking about the match, not the ranking or results or stuff," Alcaraz said. "I just try to be focussed, try to put my best in every shot, in every game."

ATP WTA LIVE | Follow the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin In Real Time

Alcaraz is trying to become the youngest World No. 1 in Pepperstone ATP Rankings history, while Ruud can become the first player from Norway to accomplish the feat.

Entering the semi-finals, Rafael Nadal is No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Alcaraz is No. 2 and Ruud is No. 3. That means Alcaraz and Ruud will reach career-high rankings regardless of their performance the rest of the tournament.