(New York) Carlos Alcaraz, 19 and 4e worldwide, and Jannik Sinner, 21 and 13e in the ATP rankings, who embody the new wave of world tennis, will face each other in the quarterfinals of the United States Open on Wednesday.
Posted at 9:47 a.m.
The Spaniard qualified by beating 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Marin Cilic (17e), winner of the event in 2014, in the middle of the night from Monday to Tuesday in New York, the time displaying 2:23 a.m. local time when he was able to finish after almost 3:54 a.m. of a very intense fight.
Fast in his first three rounds, Alcaraz this time was much more hung up against the experienced Croatian, who was trying to reach this stage for the fifth time at Flushing Meadows.
More aggressive (45 winning shots against 28), but also too clumsy (66 unforced errors against 41, including 13 double faults), Cilic ended up cracking up against the resistance of his young opponent, with supersonic legs, who used to send almost everything back into the court when he did not counter more beautifully with his reinforced concrete right arm.
Alcaraz was not content to be a rock on the Arthur-Ashe, partially filled by yellow ball fans who were packed to the end for the spectacle offered. He also seized opportunities when they arose, like his third-set win, breaking Cilic at the best time at 5-4.
Youngest world N.1?
A realism which he however failed to show in the next round, since he wasted seven break points, unlike Cilic who only needed one to open the way to a 2 innings equalizer everywhere.
In the same spirit, the Croatian, semi-finalist of the last Roland-Garros, his best result in a Major for four years, again took the service of his rival at the start of the fifth round.
PHOTO ANDRES KUDACKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jannik Sinner
But Alcaraz, to the sounds of ” Let’s go ! Recalling those of his glorious elder Rafael Nadal, eliminated earlier to everyone’s surprise by the American Frances Tiafoe, was able to resurface by taking the two following face-offs from the Croatian.
Last year, for his first participation, Carlos Alcaraz revealed himself in New York, where he had already reached the quarter-finals after notably dismissing the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in a memorable match. This year, he confirmed his emergence, winning four tournaments, including the Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid.
Which makes him one of the contenders for the title. A fortiori now that Nadal, but also Daniil Medvedev, beaten Sunday by the Australian Nick Kyrgios, are out of the race. Possible icing on the cake, Alcaraz can go down in history if he reaches the final, because that would ensure him to become the youngest world N.1 in history, the Russian being sure to be deposed.
But first the Spaniard will have to quickly recover from his efforts and pass the Sinner obstacle. The 21-year-old Italian, already a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, also fought for a long time, 3:48, to overcome 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 4- 6, 6-3 of Belarusian Ilya Ivashka (73e).