Black Immigrant Daily News

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud in four sets to win his first major at the US Open and make history in moving to the top of the ATP rankings.

Either Alcaraz or Ruud would have taken the world number one spot had they won at Flushing Meadows, and it was the 19-year-old who prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 on Sunday.

The teenager – the second-youngest New York champion of the Open Era after Pete Sampras – therefore became the youngest ever men’s number one.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, waves to the crowd after defeating Casper Ruud, of Norway.(AP Photo/John Minchillo).

Alcaraz had come through five-set matches in each of the prior three rounds, and he was again worked hard by Ruud – the new number two.

Ultimately, though, the highly talented Spaniard had the staying power to win his first grand slam title, becoming the first teenager to do so since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open.

Despite the draining efforts of previous nights, Alcaraz made a rapid start, quickly forging three break points in the third game of the match and taking the second of them.

Ruud did little else wrong in the first set but had to bide his time to respond, losing the opener and fending off an opportunity for a break in the second before immediately applying pressure going the other way.

The Norwegian reached an Alcaraz drop shot and lobbed his opponent before watching the backhand reply land long to lead, although three unforced errors in the next game almost let Alcaraz back in.

Casper Ruud, of Norway, reaches for a shot from Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa).

Instead, Ruud dug in and then profited when a sloppy Alcaraz service game allowed him to clinch the second set.

Alcaraz responded in sublime fashion, immediately piling on the pressure in the third frame and breaking down Ruud’s defence with a pinpoint drop shot, yet the set was level again when he crashed into the net, with a sensational rally required to reach a tie-break.

A couple of wild Ruud strokes decided the 73-minute set in Alcaraz’s favour, though, and the fifth seed went long in the fourth to set his opponent on course, with an emotional victory secured in ruthless style.

Data Slam: Marathon man Carlos crowned in New York

Only the third player to reach the US Open final after winning in five sets in each of the prior three rounds, Alcaraz avoided seeing another match going all the way – even if past results suggest that would have worked in his favour.

Regardless, Alcaraz set a new record for the most time spent on court at a major tournament. Since 1999, when this data was first available, Kevin Anderson’s 2018 Wimbledon run had previously represented the benchmark.

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Alcaraz – 14/3Ruud – 4/2

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Alcaraz – 55/41Ruud – 37/29

BREAK POINTS WON

Alcaraz – 3/11Ruud – 3/10

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Black Immigrant Daily News

INGEZONDEN De SLM is momenteel elke dag in het nieuws met weer een ander schandaal. Het wordt steeds duidelijker dat

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Elder abuse in Barbados needs to end.

General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Holiness Church in the Caribbean, Reverend Joel Cumberbatch wants senior citizens to be better protected, especially from uncaring caregivers and unkind family members.

He highlighted issues under the umbrella of abuse such as neglect and pinpointed physical, verbal and financial abuse. He chastised those who misuse the elderly’s funds and even pensions.

“I’m talking about abandonment which is still happening… I’m talking about deliberate abandonment. You don’t want trouble, but in many instances you have access to that person’s bank account, in many instances all that the persons have, they’ve already left for you and it is like you want them dead quicker than the Lord ready to call them.”

Happy that the congregation at Dunamis Outreach Ministries were appreciating their elderly members with a Seniors Sunday service today, September 11, and giving them gifts, Rev Cumberbatch said others should follow their example.

“We have the responsibility this morning as a community of faith to act differently and to act rightly.”

He urged, we must “give dues” to those who have served us well. “We have the responsibility in the context of the community of faith to do the best that we can with the available resources we have to help in a very practical way.”

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Major development plans, including an additional 5,000 hotel rooms, are on the drawing board for Negril over the next five years.

In fact, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has hinted at the western Jamaica town being given a status that would remove it from the dual management it now has between Hanover and Westmoreland.

Top-level discussions have started between multiple government ministries and stakeholders of Negril on aspects of the development to be rolled out over time.

And, with tourism being a critical component, Minister Bartlett on Friday spoke of some things to come as he gave the keynote address at the unveiling of a multi-coloured Negril ‘welcome sign’ at the eastern end of the resort town known as the “Capital of Casual”.

The $12-million sign features a lay-by and walkway, retaining wall, landscaping, and the fabrication of letters in red, green, and gold, reflecting the “vibe” of Negril. It also comes with solar lighting, which helps with its visibility at night and its sustainability.

Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo), Wade Mars, has dubbed the Negril ‘welcome sign’ the JAM-ICONIC photo experience. And, like him, Bartlett anticipates that, in addition to boosting the aesthetic of the resort area, the sign will also act as a catalyst to attract greater foot traffic to the area.

The tourism executives said research has shown that accessible photo experiences within destinations provide visitors with an additional incentive to travel longer and further to capture these scenic shots as part of their vacation experience. It is, therefore, intended that the existence of these sites will also provide the home destination with user-generated content for marketing, which has a multiplier effect in attracting audiences.

TPDCo has mapped out a programme to boost tourism within rural communities and add aesthetic appeal to destination areas using the JAM-ICONIC photo experiences to highlight protected areas such as natural skylines, national parks and gardens, for instance, the Cockpit Country, Blue Mountain, as well as destinations like Negril, panoramic views of Jamaica’s historic plains, waterways and towns.

On the cards for development in Negril, according to the minister, are close to 5,000 new rooms, including a 1000-room hotel at Rhodes Hall, a new property at Ocean Pointe, and expansions of the Princess, Palladium, Sandals, and Beaches properties.

With a commitment to the development of public spaces in Negril, Bartlett said, to start, the ‘Seven Miles’ beach park is to be transformed, modelling the Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James, though not being as elaborate.

He said the proposed plan has the support of Prime Minister Andrew Holness and that it is part of a bigger plan to create appealing public parks in resort areas “for the benefit of Jamaicans while inviting visitors to enjoy them”.

Negril has long enjoyed a special place in the hearts of visitors and with Jamaica making rapid strides in its recovery from the pandemic-related fallout, Minister Bartlett said the resort town has pulled in about one-third of the more than US$3 billion earned by the industry so far this year, which has led to Jamaica’s strongest and best-ever summer tourism season that just ended.

The plans for Negril have been welcomed by stakeholders in the area.

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