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Carlos Alcaraz (right) and Jannik Sinner shake hands after the game
Photo:
Frank Franklin II / AP
Spain's young star Carlos Alcaraz reached the first Grand Slam semi-final of his career at the US Open in New York after a five-set thriller.
The 19-year-old defeated the 21-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner 6: 3, 6: 7 (7: 9), 6: 7 (0: 7), 7: 5 and 6 in a high-class match on Thursday night :3 through.
Alcaraz fended off a match point in the fourth set.
Both players delivered a gripping exchange of blows with many brilliant rallies over 5:15 hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz put the final point with a massive serve at 2.50 a.m. local time.
A game at the US Open has never ended this late.
"I don't know how I did it," said Alcaraz, "I always believe in myself.
The match was on an unbelievable level.«
Alcaraz is the youngest Grand Slam semi-finalist since compatriot Rafael Nadal (2005 at the French Open).
He also kept the chance to take the lead in the world rankings after the tournament.
Opponent Tiafoe is the first American to reach the semifinals since 2006
Alcaraz's best result in majors so far has been a place in the quarterfinals - he did it both in New York last year and in Paris this summer.
For Sinner, who showed a strong performance, the quarter-finals are the last stop.
The 21-year-old has now reached the round of the last eight in all four majors, but in New York he again failed to take the next step.
Alcaraz meets Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals on Friday.
The 24-year-old won 7: 6 (7: 3), 7: 6 (7: 0), 6: 4 against the Russian Andrei Rubljow and was the first American since Andy Roddick in 2006 to reach the top four at the home tournament a.
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