New York (AFP) – Carlos Alcaraz marched into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday as two-time Grand Slam champion Barbora Krejcikova staged a miraculous escape to advance to the last eight. Spanish second seed Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, stayed on course for a semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic after overpowering France’s Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets.
The 22-year-old five-time Grand Slam champion was made to work hard in a tight first set but eventually pulled away to win 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court. “I think my style of tennis suits pretty well the energy here in New York,” said Alcaraz, who has yet to drop a set at the tournament. “The energy is special playing the day session, playing the night session. It doesn’t matter, people are always there. I love it and I think that’s why I play my best tennis here,” he added.
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The win moves Alcaraz a step closer to a potential last four assignment with tennis icon Djokovic. Djokovic, 38, continues his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title later Sunday in a night match against unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff. Alcaraz will face Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Lehecka reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for only the second time after battling past veteran Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
“I’m a bit speechless because it’s been a hell of a match,” said Lehecka, who is poised to crack the top 20 after matching his quarter-final run at the 2023 Australian Open. “Definitely an unbelievable week and a half for me. I’ve been playing well,” he said.
In the women’s draw, the Czech Republic’s unseeded former French Open and Wimbledon champion Krejcikova conjured a remarkable escape to oust Taylor Townsend, saving an incredible eight match points before digging out a 1-6, 7-6 (15/13), 6-3 victory. Krejcikova fought off a match point on her own serve at 5-4 down in the second set, and then somehow survived seven match points in an enthralling tie-breaker to move on.
“What a match,” said Krejcikova, who revealed she had wondered if she would ever play tennis again after missing the opening months of the season with a back injury. “I was sidelined for six months and didn’t know if I would ever play again. I’m super happy I can be here.” Krejcikova will face American fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals. Pegula, beaten in the final last year, advanced to the last eight after breezing past compatriot Ann Li 6-1, 6-2 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
If the tournament follows the seedings, Pegula will face a repeat of last year’s final in the semi-finals, where defending champion Aryna Sabalenka may be lying in wait. Sabalenka will look to lock down her quarter-final place on Sunday in a match against unseeded Spanish player Cristina Bucsa. Sunday’s other women’s game sees a battle of two former Wimbledon champions, with Kazakh ninth seed Elena Rybakina facing Czech Marketa Vondrousova.
© 2024 AFP
