By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday, September 8, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3, in a thrilling contest that finished at 2:50 A.M. – the latest finish in US Open history.
Photo credit: Getty
Flushing Meadows, NY—Those who may have been worried about the state of men’s tennis as the careers of the sports’ biggest stars wind down got a clear message from a pair of rising forces in the wee hours of Thursday morning in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Relax. It’s all good.
Watch: Alcaraz's Amazing Behind-the-Back Beauty
19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz defeated 21-year-old Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3, in a thrilling contest that finished at 2:50 A.M. – the latest finish in US Open history.
“I feel great to be in my first semifinal in a Grand Slam,” Alcaraz said. “I feel better reaching semifinal here in US Open. This tournament is amazing. The crowd is amazing, I would say the best in the world.
“I mean, the energy I receive in this court at 3 A.M., it was unbelievable. I mean, probably in other tournaments, other places, everybody went to their house to rest. But they keep in the court, supporting me. It was unbelievable.”
Featuring rallies played at breakneck speed, lead changes aplenty and shotmaking at the highest level, the two rivals pushed each other to the brink and back in a contest that featured jaw-dropping athleticism, fast-paced rallies that played more like ping-pong than tennis, and some truly insane hot shots.
Little did we know that Alcaraz’s behind the back winner in the second set was just the beginning of the shotmaking parade.
In the end it was Alcaraz who showed his steel by saving a match point in the fourth set with Sinner serving at 5-4, ad-in, as he cranked a backhand return crosscourt to force Sinner to miss with his backhand.
“I had some tough losses, for sure,” Sinner said. “This is in the top list. I think so. Concerning also the rest of the tournament, no, yeah, I think this one will hurt for quite a while.
“But tomorrow I wake up, or today I wake up, trying to somehow take only the positives, trying to take away the other part.”
The Spaniard then rallied from a break down in the third, and closed out the emotional victory to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal. He also snapped a two-match losing streak against Sinner that included a 4-set loss to the Italian at Wimbledon in the round of 16.
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Alcaraz is now the youngest semifinalist on the men’s side since Pete Sampras in 1990, and the youngest Grand Slam semifinalist since Rafael Nadal won his first major at Roland-Garros in 2005.
Alcaraz will face Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday night in New York. Karen Khachanov of Russia and Casper Ruud of Norway will play the other semifinal. No matter who reaches the final, a first time Grand Slam champion will be crowned on Sunday in New York.