An undecided match until the end. A meeting with twists and turns. Finally, on the night of Monday to Tuesday, it was the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, 4th player in the world and seeded n°3, who validated his ticket for the quarter-finals of the US Open, after his victory , on the Arthur-Ashe court, against Marin Cilic, 17th player in the world and seeded n°15, in five sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and 3h56 of game. The Croatian – 2014 winner in Flushing – released a few hours after Rafael Nadal, there are no more former winners in the table. New York therefore awaits its new king. And it may be Alcaraz who will face the Italian Jannik Sinner for his second consecutive quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.
Carlos Alcaraz has always had resources. Like at the very beginning of the fifth and last set when he got broken on the entry. Far from abdicating, the Spaniard rather took advantage of it, in the process, to unbreak, then continue with a new break, this time white. The 4th player in the world, who never really wavered physically in this meeting, held his advantage until the end (6-3).
US Open
After an ideal first week, is Alcaraz (this time) ready to go all the way?
20 HOURS AGO
66 unforced errors for Cilic
Opposite, Marin Cilic gave him a lot of gifts, especially on his forehand, which he often failed. Overall, the waste was more present on the Croatian side (66 unforced errors against 41). The winner of the 2014 edition, friable on his serve (13 double faults, 51% of first serve), therefore, despite everything, was able to delay the deadline, saving 67% of break points (12/18).
How could he miss that? Alcaraz penalty well stopped by Cilic on the fly
His start to the game was perfect, the time for an entry break, before losing his next two face-offs. It was enough for Alcaraz, who took this first round (6-4). A scenario that repeated itself in the second set, but in the opposite direction: Entry break for Alcaraz then unbreak in stride and new break then for Cilic, who equalized at one set everywhere (6-3).
The US Open will have an unprecedented winner
The debates were then more balanced in a third round, during which Marin Cilic, author of 45 winning points against 28, ended up cracking at the worst of times, allowing his opponent to conclude (6-4). Rebelote in the fourth round, again at the level of the scenario, but this time it was Alcaraz who was surprised, while not being able to prevent being taken away in a fifth set (6-4). For the rest that we know.
Spoon service and missed passing: Cilic in the hard against Alcaraz at the end of the 3rd set
Marin Cilic, for this fourth confrontation against this same opponent, will therefore not equalize at 2-2 on the balance sheet of their confrontations. To see him win his 35th match in five sets (against now 20 lost), we will also have to wait. Carlos Alcaraz, for his part, can still dream of being world number one at the end of this fourth and last Grand Slam of the year. For that, he will have to at least reach the final. The final of a prestigious tournament which will have an unprecedented winner.
US Open
Alcaraz, without a shadow of a doubt
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US Open
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