LIVE: 'Dream' at stake in 'match for the ages'

It's clear successful Wally Masur's caput what's much important retired of the satellite No.1 ranking and winning a singles expansive slam.

Those are the 2 tremendous achievements up for grabs arsenic Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Norwegian Casper Ruud hole to contention the US Open men's singles final.

On the cusp of what Masur branded "a lucifer for the ages", the Australian large identified winning singles large titles arsenic the pinnacle.

"When you deliberation of Pat Rafter, what bash you deliberation of?" Masur asked Chris Stubbs connected Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"I deliberation of back-to-back US Open (titles)," Stubbs replied.

"You realise helium was satellite No.1?"

Stubbs nodded and Masur explained his thinking.

"I deliberation the players — it's each astir the slams," Masur said.

"I deliberation for young kinds increasing up you astir apt imagination of being satellite No.1 and you imagination of winning slams, but I would accidental slams. The rubric takes precedence."

Alcaraz and Ruud are acceptable to diagnostic successful their archetypal singles expansive slam last astatine the property of 19 and 23 respectively.

Alcaraz is ranked 4th successful the satellite and Ruud seventh.