Alcaraz, Swiatek… What to remember from the night at the US Open

The record
The match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner goes down as the latest match in US Open history. It ended at 2:50 a.m. in New York (8:50 a.m. in Paris). The previous 2:26 a.m. record (in New York) was held by Wilander-Pernfors (1993), Kohlschreiber-Isner (2012), and Nishikori-Raonic (2014) matches. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner embody the new wave. The Spaniard (19 years old; n°3) and the Italian (21 years old; n°11) delivered a dense, intense match. A real boxing match in which the rivals bluntly went blow for blow. With a magnificent collection of winners (58 for Alcaraz; 61 for Sinner). And the intensity, at the rate of the turnarounds (11 break points converted out of 26 for Alcaraz; 7 out of 16 for Sinner) has not dropped. In strength, in finesse, the blows piled up in a breathtaking encounter. Tennis which often wonders about the after Big 3 (the blessed era of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer) knows that it has a future. At the end of this magnificent showdown, the match of the tournament, Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (0/7), 7-5, 6-3 in 5h14 . The Spaniard showed mental toughness allowing him to face and recover from the most compromised situations, such as when he had to erase a match point (at 4-5 in the 4^e set). Carlos Alcaraz, who will experience his first Grand Slam semi-final, can still dream of the world No. 1 spot in the next ATP ranking. For a place in the final, he has an appointment with the American Frances Tiafoe who achieved the performance, quite rare on the circuit, of continuing after a victory against Rafael Nadal.

Point
At 6-5 in a burning 2nd set conclusion, Carlos Alcaraz released a reflex blow to the back before moving quickly on a mid-court backhand that left Jannik Sinner unresponsive. The Arthur Ashe court audience roared with delight.

The tweet
“I feel like I’m watching a ping-pong match”
Written by Feliciano Lopez stunned by the electric duel between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

The stat: 2011
For the first time since Wimbledon 2011, the last Grand Slam representative of the United States is a man. After the elimination of Jessica Pegula, beaten by Iga Swiatek 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), the last American in the running is Frances Tiafoe. Winner of Russian Andrey Rublev (11th) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/0), 6-4, he will experience his first Grand Slam semi-final. “It’s crazy, to win another big victory (after Nadal), against such a difficult player. I feel like home, this court is incredible, everyone pushes me, I have to give the best of myself. I enjoy these moments, but there are two games left, ”summarized the first American in the semifinals at the US Open since Andy Roddick in 2006. Andrey Rublev comes up against a 6^e defeat in the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam in… 6 attempts.

The phrase : “I’m trying to pee for doping control… And that helps soften the defeat” Signed Jessica Pegula, frustrated and disillusioned after her elimination against world No. 1 Iga Swiatek who was drinking a beer at a press conference and said took the time to smile. The Polish, after an irregular match (she lost her service 6 times) pocketed her 55^e victory of the year, the 19^e in Grand Slam, the 8^e against a Top 10 player this year.

The image
That of Juan Martin Del Potro. Last February, the Argentinian (22 titles, including one Grand Slam, the 2009 US Open) retired. The body worn out by wounds. The Argentinian (33) was a very attentive spectator of the intense quarter-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. The Argentine told Espn Tenis: “I still feel like a player. I don’t consider myself a former tennis player. When I see others, I feel like I have to be there. I will always leave the door open for a return beyond the will to be healthy in everyday life. “And to evoke the dream of participating in the US Open… 2023. For one last dance, like Serena Williams.

The blue note
Caroline Garcia (who will open the night session against Ons Jabeur, at 1 a.m. on Thursday night to Friday) no longer sees double. The Lyonnaise and Kristina Mladenovic (titled at Roland-Garros this year), seeded n°14, were eliminated 6-3, 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the women’s doubles by the duo composed of the American Caroline Dolehide and Australian Storm Sanders.

The encounter
Ons Jabeur, who will meet Caroline Garcia for a place in the final, was able to meet his idol, the American Andy Roddick, the last American to title in New York, in 2003.

The fine
Nick Kyrgios was fined $14,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after his US Open quarter-final loss to Karen Khachanov. After the traditional handshake, the fiery Australian demolished two rackets. The fine is, according to Reuters, the heaviest imposed by the 2022 tournament and brings Kyrgios’ total to $32,500 for his five violations in New York. This sum will be automatically deducted from the $473,200 that Kyrgios won – $445,000 in singles and $28,200 in doubles – in the last Grand Slam of the year.

The question
Complications for Federer? The return of Roger Federer, absent from the circuit since a quarter-final lost in 2021 at Wimbledon, is scheduled for the Laver Cup (September 22-24 in London). The appearances of the Swiss are limited for the moment to a few brief training sequences shared on social networks. According to the Swiss media “Tages Anzeiger”, quoted by L’Équipe, Roger Federer (41) is still having problems in his right knee (fluid is present in the joint operated on three times) and is only aligned in double in order to preserve for the future, in particular the announced participation in the Basel tournament (October 24-30).

SEE ALSO – The last training session for Olympique de Marseille before facing Tottenham (2-0)