US Open: Alcaraz wins offense before dawn

Alcaraz could have won the match earlier, but the 19-year-old Spaniard squandered four points in the second round and lost 4-2 in the third set. In the fourth set he saves the match ball against the foul serving at 4:5 and manages to level the set. In the end, Alcaraz used his first match point after 315 minutes and reached the Grand Slam semi-finals of his career.

“Honestly, I don’t know how I turned off match point,” Alcaraz said after the second longest game in US Open history. The previous record was lost since 1992, the confrontation between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang was 5:26 hours. “The level I played, the level of the game, the high quality of tennis – it was a great match.”

The sinner must absorb defeat first

And the fourth in the world rankings said that the support from the spectators helped me: “The energy I felt on the court at three in the morning was incredible. In other tournaments, in other places, everyone may have gone home to sleep.” Alcaraz also praised Sinner. On her exciting but always honest fight: “He’s a great player, his level is amazing.” Do a lot for comfort. “I’ve had two heavy losses before, but that’s going to be top of the list, I think that’s going to hurt some time,” Sener said wistfully.

In the next round, Alcaraz, the youngest player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since compatriot Rafael Nadal (2005 at the French Open), meets Tiafoe, who is making New York fans dream of their first home win in 19 years. Andy Roddick last won the tournament in 2003, and was the last domestic champion to reach the semi-finals in 2006. Now, spurred on by the excited crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tiafoe, who ousted Spanish superstar Nadal in the round of 16, has ended that dry spell.

Rod and Alcaraz in the race for first place

In the second semi-final, he will face the fifth seed of Norway, Kasper Ruud, and the 27th seed, Karen Khachanov of Russia. If Rudd makes it to the final, he’s a new number one in the ATP rankings. If Alcaraz succeeds, he must win the title. But if the two miss the final, Nadal, who failed in the round of 16, returns to first place and replaces Russian Daniil Medvedev, who lost in the round of 16 to Australian Nick Kyrgios.

“I feel at home in places like this. You have my back strong, I always find a way out,” said Tiafoe, who reached the final at the 2021 Vienna Stadhalen, “We still have two games, two more.” Tiafoe is also the first American from African descent Since the US Open semi-finalist Arthur Ashe, the tennis legend, who died in 1993, made it to the top four exactly 50 years ago.

Sabalenka again in the semi-finals

As in the previous year, Arina Sabalenka from Belarus reached the women’s semi-finals. She won the quarter-final match after a sovereign performance against Czech Karolina Pliskova 6:1 7:6 (7/4). In the top four on Thursday, six-seeded Sabalenka will meet world number one Iga Swiatek of Poland, who defeated American Jessica Pegola 6:3 7:6 (7/4). For two-time French Open winner Swiatek, this is already her biggest hardcourt Grand Slam success in New York.

Nothing went well for Pliskova from the start, racking up 15 unintended fouls and five double faults in just 28 minutes. She was only in the second set who was properly behind, but was left behind in the tiebreak. “I am ready for the next battle and I think I have to focus on myself,” Sabalenka said. The other semi-final duo has already been decided, and Tunisian Wimbledon finalist Anas Jabeur will face Caroline Garcia of France.

US Open in New York

(US, $27915,200, hard court)

Men’s Singles

Ladies Singles