US Open mens final live updates: Carlos Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud

Carlos Alcaraz is set to serve for the first set with a 5-4 lead over Casper Ruud, who stayed in the set by winning the ninth game.

Earlier, with the set beginning to get away from him at 4-2, Ruud helped himself by quickly taking the seventh game. Up 40-0, Ruud tried a between-the-legs shot off a sharp return from Alcaraz, but it wandered wide for a nice-try-but-no-cigar error. The fifth-seeded Norwegian then forced an error from Alcaraz, however, to seal the game and get to 4-3.

Ruud then showed some class by acknowledging he didn’t quite get to a drop shot from Alcaraz before it bounced twice. Ruuds attempt at it initially prolonged the Rally and Alcaraz subsequently hit a shot into the net, but both players called for a replay, after which Alcaraz was given the point. Later in the game, Alcaraz drilled a backhand up the line to reach 5-3.