As was expected, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner produced a cracker in the US Open quarter-final. After five hours and 15 minutes, Alcaraz prevailed 6-3, 6-7, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, saving a match point in the fourth set and moving into the first Major semi-final at 19! They played the last point at 2:50 am, and it’s the latest finish in the US Open history! It was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, with Alcaraz squandering the advantage in the third and Sinner in the fourth set. The Italian led 5-3 in the fourth set and served for the victory in game ten. He wasted a match point and lost four games in a row to keep the Spaniard in contention. Carlos gained a boost and sealed the deal in the decider to remain on the title course and move closer to becoming world no. 1. They hit only 13 aces and 16 double faults. There were titanic 42 break chances, and Carlos claimed 16 points more overall. The Spaniard converted 11 out of 26 opportunities and got broken seven times from Sinner’s 16 break points. Alcaraz fired 58 winners and 38 unforced errors.
Jannik had 60 winners and 60 mistakes, unable to tame his strokes more efficiently and squandering that match point that ruined his chances. Alcaraz broke in the encounter’s opening game before netting a backhand in game four to bring the rival back to 2-2. Carlos landed a return winner in game seven to forge another advantage and wrapped up the set with a forehand return winner at 5-3 after 50 minutes. Sinner broke at 1-1 in the second set and held at love in game eight to open a 5-3 gap. Carlos broke back in game ten to prolong the set and earned four set points on the return at 6-5. The Italian stayed composed and fended them off to introduce a tie break. The Spaniard saved a set point at 5-6 in the tie break with a backhand crosscourt winner before Sinner saved the fifth set point in that next one with a booming serve. Jannik placed a backhand return winner at 8-7 to wrap up the set and level the overall score after over two hours.
Carlos Alcaraz saved a match point against Jannik Sinner.
Carlos led 4-2 in the third set before Jannik broke back in game eight to bring the result back at 4-4. The Spaniard broke in the 11th game and served for the set in the next one. The Italian stayed focused and converted the third break chance in the 12th game to prolong the set and gain momentum ahead of the tie break. Jannik claimed it 7-0 to steal the set and move closer to the finish line after three hours and 22 minutes. Sinner built a 3-1 lead in the fourth set and looked good to seal the deal from there. Alcaraz broke back in game six before hitting a double fault and losing serve at love in the next one. Sinner served for the victory in game ten and earned a match point. Carlos saved it with a deep return and broke back after Jannik’s terrible volley to lock the result at 5-5.
With momentum on his side, Alcaraz placed a volley winner at the net in game 12 to steal the rival’s serve and introduce a decider after four hours and 25 minutes. The Spaniard rattled off four straight games from 5-3 down and was the favorite in the decider. Sinner stayed composed and grabbed a break at 15 at 2-2 with a deep return. The Italian squandered a 40-15 lead in the next one and netted a forehand to lose serve and bring the rival back into contention. Jannik wasted a game point at 3-4 and experienced a break after a loose backhand that sealed his fate in this match. Carlos served for the victory in game nine and fired a booming serve that sealed the deal and propelled him into the semi-final, the first at Majors.