One thing is certain: the kid knows how to make an entrance, and the New York crowd loved it to bits. On his first-ever participation at the US Open, 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz put on a mesmerising display of aggressive tennis and sheer guts to take on, and eventually take down, world no. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3 4-6 7-6(2) 0-6 7-6(5) in 4-hours, 7 minutes in the biggest stadium in the business, the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows.
Very few analysts had ventured to predict that clay-court specialist Alcaraz could represent a risky opponent for Tsitsipas, given the difference in ranking and experience, but the young Spaniard took to the court with a clear game plan and remained committed to it, executing with great ability even after losing the fourth set by 6-0.
“Our plan was to keep rallies short – said former world no. 1 Juan Carlo Ferrero, Alcaraz’ coach, after the match – because [Carlos] is not a player for long rallies. He is very confident right now; he was able to let his shots go and he did play extremely well. He was very keen on playing Tsitsipas, it could have occurred last year at Roland Garros, and also this year in Australia, but eventually, it didn’t happen. In this tournament, he could play the match and he played great”.
In this match Alcaraz won fewer games (3) and fewer points (8) than Tsitsipas, but managed to hit 61 winners, 18 of which in an astonishing fifth set that he played lights-out after a “gameless” loss in the fourth. Eighteen is also the number of Alcaraz’ backhand winners, against only two by Tsitsipas.
“It’s one of these matches and one of these feelings where, you know, you pick up at some point of the match, you feel like you’re in control, and it doesn’t really go your way at the end, “ said Tsitsipas in a sad press conference where he hit back at the attacks and the “boos” he has been subjected to during this tournament because of his long toilet breaks. “I’m not pretending that everyone loves me. I don’t want to be — my intentions are not to be loved by everyone. Every person can choose their favorite player, pick a side. I felt that way, but I kind of have ignored it.”
He had some tough words for his colleague Alexander Zverev, who implied Tsitsipas used a toilet break to communicate with his coach-father during the final of the Western&Southern Open in Cincinnati: “When people are not really in the sport and don’t know what is happening, I mean, all these accusations have been completely false. The one in my match in Cincinnati, which was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Yeah, that was — I don’t know what to say. I mean, that really shows the level of the person that said it.”
The crowd adopted Alcaraz as their favourite from the beginning of the match and lifted the Spaniard during the final part of the match. “I think without the crowd I couldn’t have the opportunity to play a great fifth set and be able to beat Stefanos. I think the crowd was really amazing”.
Tsitsipas subsequently told the Greek media that the match turned on very few points, most likely in the third set when he could not convert the double break advantage and had three set points when serving at 5-2. “I did not learn the lesson from Cincinnati,” he said, remembering the 4-1 lead in the final set during the last match with Zverev at the Western&Southen Open. But he also admitted he had never seen anyone hitting returns that powerful: “I don’t know how much harder I need to hit my return in order to apply pressure. But he felt to be dealing with it really well, comfortably, hitting winners after the first return of mine, just being so much in control, which was surprising, especially in the fifth set. I didn’t expect him to raise his level so much, especially after having lost the fourth set this way. He was a completely different player.”
Alcaraz is now edging closer to the Top 50 in the ATP ranking and will face qualifier Peter Gojowczyk (no. 141 ATP) from Germany to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinals.
