US Open: Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz stuns third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Published
Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest men's singles player to reach the US Open fourth round in 32 years
US Open 2021 |
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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 claimed a fifth set tie-break to stun Greek third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a thrilling third-round US Open match.
Alcaraz, 18, twice led Tsitsipas by a set before prevailing 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 0-6 7-6 (7-5) to set up his first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance.
Earlier, second seed Daniil Medvedev eased into round four with a straight-set win over Pablo Andujar.
Medvedev plays Dan Evans next after the British number one beat Alexei Popyrin.
Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the French Open third round since 1992 in June - and the 18-year-old once again demonstrated why he is being tipped for future glory as he shocked the world number three at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz twice led Tsitsipas, who reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros earlier this year, by a set and showed maturity well beyond his years as he also recovered from failing to take a game in the fourth.
Roared on by a partisan crowd, the talented Spaniard survived a break point at 3-2 down in the deciding set and showed no sign of tension as he held serve to force the final tie-break.
In a dazzling display Alcaraz landed 61 winners and, after more than four hours of play, clinched his third match point with an assured forehand winner to set up a fourth-round meeting with German Peter Gojowczyk.
"I think without this crowd I haven't the possibility to win the match," said Alcaraz. "I was down at the beginning of the fourth set so thank you to the crowd for pushing me up in the fifth.
"It's an incredible feeling for me. This victory means a lot to me. It's the best match of my career, the best win, to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas is a dream come true for me."
Tsitsipas has been criticised for his lengthy bathroom breaks
For 23-year-old Tsitsipas, defeat ends a week during which he faced audible jeers from the crowds during his second-round win against Adrian Mannarino on Wednesday for taking a lengthy mid-match toilet break.
Former champion Andy Murray initially raised the issue during their opening match on Monday - the Briton saying he had "lost respect" for Tsitsipas and accused him of "cheating" by going off court for eight minutes.
Once again on Friday, Tsitsipas received jeers as he headed off court for a bathroom break, though he was gone for less than four minutes. Yet, despite sweeping up the fourth set, he was unable to find a way past Alcaraz.
"I took my toilet break as a normal athlete," said Tsitsipas. "[I] might have taken a bit longer than other athletes. If there was a rule that says there's a specific amount of time that you are allowed to take then I would probably try and follow that protocol, that rule, and stay within the guidelines.
"For me the only thing I did was change from wet clothes to dry clothes. Apparently it's a huge issue.
"I don't know why everyone suddenly is against me, especially when other players don't follow rules and don't stick within 25 seconds between play."
Medvedev sets up Evans meeting
World number two Medvedev needed less than two hours to despatch Spanish world number 72 Andujar.
The Russian, who lost in the 2019 final to Rafael Nadal, won 6-0 6-4 6-3 on Louis Armstrong Stadium and later discovered he would face British number one Evans for a quarter-final place.
Evans, the 24th seed, fought back from two sets down to defeat Australian Popyrin in another epic at Flushing Meadows on Friday.
Elsewhere, Argentine 11th seed Diego Schwartzman defeated Slovakia's Alex Molcan 6-4 6-3 6-3.
He will face Botic van de Zandschulp in the fourth round, after the Dutchman came from behind to triumph in four sets against Schwartzman's compatriot Facundo Bagnis, eventually winning 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-2.
Also on day five, Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev meets American Frances Tiafoe last up on Arthur Ashe, while Canadian 11th seed Felix Auger Aliassime takes on Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
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