The worst kept secret in tennis is out. Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish teenager long acknowledged among the sport’s cognoscenti as a star in the making, introduced himself to the wider world with a stunning victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open.
Alcaraz, the world No 55, came out swinging from the outset, striking the ball with breath-taking power as he blazed winner after winner to lead by a set and 3-0. It was an extraordinary display of shot-making by any standard, but for an 18-year-old playing at Flushing Meadows for the first time in his young career it was truly remarkable.
Inevitably, the young Spaniard struggled to maintain his initial level, and when Tsitsipas fought back to level the match before establishing a 5-2 lead in the third set, it looked as though the natural order was about to be restored. Alcaraz had other ideas, however, saving three set points as he came storming back to clinch the set on a tiebreaker.
Worse was to come for Tsitsipas, who once again fell foul of the New York crowd as he took what was a relatively swift bathroom break by his standards. The Greek was able to shrug off the chorus of boos that reverberated around Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning the fourth set at a canter, but Alcaraz proved equally adept at handling adversity.
Making light of a fourth-set whitewash and what looked like a hint of cramp, the young Spaniard held firm to force a climactic tiebreak, where he seized on a floated slice at 6-5 to smoke a forehand for his 61st winner of the night, sealing an unforgettable 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(7-2), 0-6, 7-6(7-5) victory.
“In the beginning of the first set, [he] came really strong,” said Tsitsipas. “His ball speed was incredible, I’ve never seen someone hit the ball so hard. It took time to adjust, took time to kind of develop my game around his game style. It’s one of these matches and one of these feelings where you pick up at some point of the match, you feel like you’re in control, and it doesn’t really go your way at the end.
“It’s kind of bitter, I would say, especially after such an incredible fourth set [on] my side, dominating, being just so aggressive, not dwelling on the past. It was a great fourth set. I felt like he played the fifth one completely the way he played the first set basically, careless, going for every single shot. I have never seen someone play such a good fifth set.”
Alcaraz advances to the last 16, where he will face Peter Gojowczykyk, a German qualifier ranked 141 in the world. “I have not words to explain how I am feeling right now,” said Alcaraz, who is coached by former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero. “I just don’t know what happened out there in the court. I can’t believe that I beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in an epic match. For me, it’s a dream come true.”
For Tsitsipas, it was more nightmare than dream as defeat drew a line under a torrid week in New York. Having incurred the wrath of former champion Andy Murray, who said he had “lost respect” for the Greek over his decision to take an eight-minute bathroom break before the final set of their opening round match, Tsitsipas was jeered by the crowd in similar circumstances during his second-round win over Adrian Mannarino.
There were more delays against Alcaraz, first for a medical timeout and then for a change of clothing after the third set. To compound his discomfort, Tsitsipas also received a warning for coaching.
“Look, I’m not pretending that everyone loves me,” said Tsitsipas, the world No 3. “My intentions are not to be loved by everyone. Every person can choose their favourite player, pick a side. I felt that way, but I kind of have ignored it.
“Because people don’t know, that’s the thing. When people are not really in the sport and don’t know what is happening, I mean, all these accusations have been completely false.”
It was quite the night for teenage sensations and big upsets. Alcaraz was followed into Arthur Ashe Stadium by another 18-year-old in the shape of Leylah Fernandez, a Canadian ranked 73rd in the world, who caused the biggest upset of the women’s event so far with a 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka, the defending champion.
Osaka lost her composure after she was broken when serving for the match at 6-5 in the second set, repeatedly hurling her racket to the ground in frustration during the ensuing tiebreak. Unperturbed, Fernandez broke early in the decider and never looked back.
“From the very beginning, right before the match, I knew I was able to win,” said Fernandez, who will face former champion Angelique Kerber in round four.
“I wasn’t focusing on Naomi, I was just focusing on what I needed to do.”