WHAT HAPPENED: There’s good reason why Carlos Alcaraz, 19, and Jannik Sinner, 21, keep bumping into each other when both prize money and trophies are at stake.
For starters, the #NextGenATP stars—not just the future of the sport, but the right now—keep going deep in the draw, week in, week out. Each came into the US Open quarterfinals among the top five in match wins in 2022, the Spaniard Alcaraz with a tour-best 48 (and a co-leading four titles), the Italian Sinner with 42.
It was already their third on-court encounter since July, with the 11th seed Sinner having prevailed in both the Umag final and in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon. However, Wednesday night/Thursday morning in Arthur Ashe Stadium would belong to Alcaraz, who saved a match point to prevail in a five-set thriller that lingered until a record 2:50 a.m., finalizing with a score of 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3. The five-hour, 15-minute epic is the latest finish in US Open history.
Alcaraz became the youngest Grand Slam men’s semifinalist since his countryman Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2005, and the youngest US Open men’s semifinalist since Pete Sampras in 1990.
“I still don’t know how I did it,” said Alcaraz. “The level that I played, the level of the match, the high quality of the tennis. It’s unbelievable, the match today. Jannik Sinner is a great player. As everybody could see, his level is just amazing.”
The only question ahead of the match was whether the two youngest members of the Top 20 had anything left in the tank. Both had rallied from a break down in the fifth set in taxing Round of 16 marathons to advance. Alcaraz sure looked energetic from the start, converting break points in the first, seventh and ninth games of the opening set. With Sinner serving to stay in the stanza at 3-5, 30-40, Alcaraz put away a forehand return pass to move in front.
Sinner showed some serious resilience in the second set. He saved four set points, and overcame an around-the-back highlight-reel shot from Alcaraz that brought the crowd to its collective feet to force a tiebreak. Once there, the Italian would save yet another set point to level the match at a set apiece.
Alcaraz led 4-2 in the third and served for the set at 6-5, only to have Sinner flash his defensive skills and force a second consecutive tiebreak, one he rolled through with ease.
Alcaraz—mentored by a man who knows what it takes to win on this court, 2003 finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero—saved a match point with Sinner serving at 5-4, and two games later forced a fifth and final set.
Alcaraz would create two break points with Sinner serving at 3-4 in the fifth, converting the second for the last break he would need before serving out one of the most epic matches in the annals of the tournament.
“I always say, you have to believe in yourself,” said Alcaraz, who remains in contention for becoming the youngest No. 1 in the history of the ATP rankings. “Hope is the last thing that you lose. I just believed in myself, believed in my game.”
WHAT IT MEANS: We’re in for a bona fide blockbuster when Alcaraz meets 22nd seed Frances Tiafoe in what will be both players’ first major semifinal. Alcaraz dropped their only previous encounter last year on clay in Barcelona, a 6-4, 7-6(2) decision in the first round.
MATCH POINT: With the win, Alcaraz becomes the youngest men's Grand Slam singles semifinalist since Rafael Nadal won the 2005 Roland Garros title at 19. He is also the youngest US Open men’s singles semifinalist since Pete Sampras won the 1990 title, also at 19.
