NEW YORK – Carlos Alcaraz hit a behind-the-scenes shot on the US Open to win Sunday with a 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 victory at Arthur Lindeckneck, bringing the Spaniards to the thirteenth Grand Slam Quarter Closing in the course of the Open period.
“Typically, I observe it. I am not going to lie,” second seed Alkaraz stated of the magic bit he delivered within the first set. “However I do not observe it time and again. I do not observe it time and again. Actually, I strive it if I get the possibility. It is the identical in a match. If I get the possibility, why do not I do this?”
At 22 years and three months, Alcaraz is about six months youthful than Boris Becker when he arrived at No. 13 within the Main Quarter Finals.
Alkaraz’s opponent on Tuesday shall be 23-year-old Jiri Lehecca from the Czech Republic. Lehecca received Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to advance to his second slam quarterfinals.
Alcaraz and Lehecka have performed 3 times, with Alcaraz having a 2-1 benefit. They’ve by no means met of their majors.
“He is one of many two largest challenges in tennis proper now,” Lehecca stated. “He is transferring very effectively. He can serve large. He is aware of all the things. His sport is full. …For me, I am attempting to stay to the weapons I’ve, the weapons that labored for me in these final two matchups.”
Early on with Linderneck, a Frenchman who performed school tennis at Texas A&M, Alcaraz closed the maintain of affection, which scored two in an epic method. Shifting to the fitting on the midcourt, Alkaraz seen what appeared like a foul place when Linderneck went on his flawed foot.
Nonetheless, Alcaraz wrapped his racket round his physique and fired the road.
Surprisingly, Linderneck, who was most likely not completed, hit a volley that landed on the web. Alcaraz’s faces crossed as he watched his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero within the stands. Alkaraz then positioned his proper index finger behind his ear.
“Individuals like that. I like taking part in tennis this manner,” Alcaraz stated. “My tennis model matches fairly effectively with the vitality right here.”
Alcaraz has integrated the set right into a tiebreaker. Then, halfway by means of the second, Alcaraz produced an effort worthy of one other spotlight with an unappealing winner, reaching a brief ball and glimpsed the road as if he was about to hit a Linderneck backhand, however as an alternative piloted a forehand crosscoat.
By the ultimate sport, even Linderneck was smiling at Alkaraz’s different subsequent stage strokes. Alcaraz has received 54 of his 55 service video games in 4 video games this yr with the Flushing Meadows and has but to drop a set. He claimed the primary title of 5 Grand Slam Trophy in 2022.
Alcaraz is caught up within the fourth main quarterfinals of 2025. For the primary time in his profession, he went 4-4 in that class within the season. He misplaced to Novak Djokovic at that stage on the Australian Open in January, received the French Open in June, and misplaced to No.1 Janik Sinner within the remaining at Wimbledon in July.
Alcaraz presently has 34 of his final 35 tour-level matches, together with 10 consecutive wins since his defeat at Wimbledon. His victory Sunday was the twenty first on the US Open, third-highest in his first 5 appearances on the New York Main in the course of the opening days. The one different ones are John McEnroe (28) and Lleyton Hewitt (23).
ESPN analysis and Related Press contributed to this report.
