Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 30 August-12 September |
Coverage: Daily radio commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra/BBC Sport website and app, with selected live text commentaries and match reports on the website and app |
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz continued his sensational US Open debut by coming from behind to beat German Peter Gojowczyk in five sets and reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Alcaraz, 18, recovered from two-sets-to-one down to win 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-0.
The victory sees Alcaraz become the youngest player in the Open era to reach the US Open men’s last eight.
The world number 55 will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime next in New York.
The 12th seed came from a set down to defeat the USA’s Frances Tiafoe 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
“I’m super excited to be in my first second week in the Grand Slam, so it’s amazing for me. It’s a dream come true,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s really tough to play these kind of matches, to play fifth sets. I hope to play more second weeks, to play more quarter-finals of Grand Slams.
“I didn’t expect to play quarter-finals here. So I think it’s a really good performance from me in these matches.”
Spain’s talented young star Alcaraz announced himself on one of the sport’s grandest stages as he stunned Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a fifth set tie-break in the previous round.
That seismic victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium, after which he thanked the crowd for playing their part, made him the youngest men’s singles player to reach the US Open fourth round in 32 years.
This time out on a packed Grandstand court, the Spaniard fell behind to 32-year-old qualifier Gojowczyk, as the world number 141 battled back from a double break of serve down to clinch a rollercoaster opening set.
Alcaraz, who at 5-4 had served for a first set which featured seven breaks in all, refused to make the same mistake with a dominant display in the second – converting an early advantage by winning four successive games.
The momentum swung again in the third set, as Gojowczyk shrugged off the disappointment of being denied at set point to immediately break back and regain control of the match.
An enthralling contest unfortunately did not get the ending it deserved, however.
Alcaraz once again rose to the occasion, executing a delightful drop shot to break back for 1-1 in the fourth set before conceding just one more game on his way to setting up a decider.
But a struggling Gojowczyk, who received treatment to his right leg before the start of the final set, could offer no resistance as Alcaraz ultimately cruised to victory – becoming the youngest men’s singles quarter-finalist at Grand Slam since 1990 in the process.
He will not be the only teenager in the last eight of the singles competitions. Canadian Leylah Fernandez will face fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a semi-final spot as, on the eve of her 19th birthday, she defeated 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.
They could yet be joined by fellow 18-year-old Emma Raducanu, with the Briton set to face American Shelby Rogers on Monday.
Qualifier Van de Zandschulp stuns Schwartzman to set up Medvedev tie
Elsewhere, Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp stunned Argentine 11th seed Diego Schwartzman in five sets.
The world number 117 recovered from losing the third and fourth sets to win 6-3 6-4 5-7 5-7 6-1 and become only the third qualifier to reach the US Open men’s quarter-finals.
Having not previously been beyond the second round of a Grand Slam, Van de Zandschulp will meet second seed Daniil Medvedev for a place in the last four.
Russian Medvedev, the 2019 runner-up, outclassed beat British number one Dan Evans on Sunday and is yet to drop a set after four rounds following his 6-3 6-4 6-3 victory.
The 25-year-old Van de Zandschulp turned professional in 2013 but only qualified for his first Grand Slam main draw at the 2021 Australian Open.
The Dutchman had already put out eighth seed Casper Ruud in round two before this latest statement victory over world number 14 Schwartzman, in which he produced 55 winners and 15 aces in an impressive four-hour-and-20-minute display.
And his reward for four hard-fought main draw victories in New York – in which he has played an exhausting 18 sets – will be a meeting with two-time major finalist Medvedev in the second week.
“I don’t really have words for it,” said Van de Zandschulp, who also had to come through three qualifying matches.