Carlos Alcaraz did not drop a set as he reached the quarter-finals of the US Open, where he beat France's Arthur Rinderknech 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. The US Open is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, the NOW streaming service and the Sky Sports app.
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Highlights of the US Open fourth-round match between Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Rinderknech
Carlos Alcaraz scored a stunning victory over Arthur Rinderknech to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Spanish superstar Alcaraz won in three sets 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4 in his fourth-round match to face Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Alcaraz may have had a serious new haircut, but he played with enthusiasm to defeat a potentially dangerous opponent.
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Check out Carlos Alcaraz's unique warm-up routine
Rinderknech, although he has a low world ranking of 82, was on par with Alcaraz for most of the first set. Both held serve confidently, and the Frenchman played confidently.
But Alcaraz's stunning shots did garnish the first set. He earned the fourth game with an incredible point. First, Alcaraz hit the ball high, Rinderknech hit it back hard, and Alcaraz swung his racket behind his back, not only sending the ball over the net but also scoring the winner.
In the first set, game after game took them to a tie-break. Rinderknech made the first mini-break. But that forced Alcaraz to speed up. After the Frenchman double-faulted, Alcaraz hit a brilliant cross-court return, taking Rinderknech away and earning his mini-break.
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He quickly moved forward, finishing the tiebreak 7-3 to win the first set.
In pursuit of a break in the second set, Alcaraz played a brilliant game. He fired a powerful forehand past Rinderknech to win the rally and surged forward to catch a drop shot that sent the Frenchman the wrong way. He converted the second of three break points by beating Rinderknech with a powerful overhand.
He had to fight to secure the break, and in the next game he skillfully defended two break points. Rinderknech continued to push, but he was running out of ideas to contain Alcaraz. An underhand serve flew into the net without a problem, and Alcaraz secured the second set.
Alcaraz once again showed his brilliance when he needed it to break at 4-4 in the third set.
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Check out this outrageous behind-the-scenes shot of Alcaraz
Rinderknech hit a great backhand, but Alcaraz pounced and hit another powerful forehand to earn his second point against Rinderknech's serve. Another fantastic forehand gave him three break points. Rinderknech saved the first, but Alcaraz converted the second, serving for the final time.
Rinderknech jumped helplessly under a superb Alcaraz strike, and the Spaniard took a 30-0 lead into the final game. Victory seemed inevitable, and Rinderknech returned the ball to send Alcaraz into the quarter-finals.
Will Alcaraz be able to show his best?
Photo: Carlos Alcaraz has a great variety of images.
Carlos Alvaraz could be in his best form at this year’s US Open. He certainly plays with finesse and makes special shots. “If there’s an opportunity, why not? I think people like it,” he said after the match. “I like playing this kind of tennis, so it just comes naturally.”
“I always try to make the most special shots during matches, and I feel like my style of tennis fits perfectly with the energy of New York.
“Every time I go out on the court for a match or training, there are always people there and the energy is special.
“There are always a lot of people here, they enjoy tennis and bring maximum energy to the match. I really like that.”
“I think that's why I play my best tennis here in New York.”
Will only the Sinner be able to defeat him?
Pictured: Alcaraz may be at his best in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova believes that only Jannik Sinner can potentially beat Alcaraz.
“He's just too good. He finds spots on the court that most people dream of,” the Sky Sports pundit said of Alcaraz.
“He's really unlimited in terms of the game plans he can come up with. When plan A doesn't work, he can go to plan B and plan C. He can serve and volley from any position, stay behind any position, combine, just slice. He's got it all.”
“He really knows exactly when to use them.
“He made Rinderknech feel helpless, and he's a very good player,” she added. “The reason Sinner is successful is that he can beat him, and I think he's the only one who can do that.”
“I think everyone else feels like they have to step out of their comfort zone and play the best match of their life to have a chance against them. These guys are just playing their average tennis, which they can step up when they need to, in crucial moments, and the game is over.”
“Only against each other do they have to play their hardest to win: Sinner vs. Alcaraz.”
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Martina Navratilova said she was running out of adjectives to describe Carlos Alcaraz after his dominant performance against Arthur Rinderknech and was full of praise for the Spaniard and tournament favourite Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic prepares for decisive match with Fritz
Novak Djokovic dealt with a major neck problem but recovered quickly to defeat 144th-ranked qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to reach his record 64th Grand Slam quarterfinal.
“I don't know how many more I'll have, so obviously each one is special,” said Djokovic, who will next take on the last remaining American, Taylor Fritz.
Djokovic dominated from the start, breaking the 35-year-old German's serve six times during the match.
Struff beat three seeded players to reach the fourth round of the US Open for the first time, but was unable to put much pressure on the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
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Djokovic will advance to the quarterfinals on Tuesday against fourth seed Fritz, where he will win 10-0.
“A good serve definitely helps. I think I served well in the last round and tonight,” Djokovic said.
“I just looked at the stats. I beat one of the guys who had the most aces in the tournament this year. That's a great stat. Obviously, it makes my life easier on the court. Maybe I don't have to work as hard or unnecessarily more than I have to.”
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American Fritz sent Team Stars and Stripes into a frenzy with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Czech 21st seed Tomas Machac to book his place in the Grand Slam quarterfinals for the third straight year.
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