September 04, (THEWILL) – The biggest upset at the ongoing US Open in New York was served at the early hours of Saturday when Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz claimed a fifth set tie-break to stun third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a thrilling third-round tie that finished 6-3 4-6 7(7)-6(2) 0-6 7(7)-6(5).
The 18-year-old took the lead in front of Tsitsipas twice by a set before he prevailed over his more illustrious opponent to set up a Grand Slam fourth-round appearance for the first time in his professional career.
THEWILL recalls that Alcaraz was the youngest player to reach the French Open third round since 1992 in June this year. In Saturday’s third round match, he again demonstrated why he is being tipped for future glory as he rose to the occasion to knock out the world number three after valiantly recovering from a bagel in the fourth set.
In their match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Tsitsipas, who reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros earlier this year before losing to world number one Novak Djokovic, trailed Alcaraz twice. And, the incredibly focused teenager showed maturity well beyond his years to hold off the Greek’s attempt to catch up.
It was a strong final set of tie breaks that won it for Alcaraz after he recovered from failing to take a single game in that lopsided fourth set, where Tsitsipas appeared to have been revived after taking another of his infamous toilet breaks that a previous opponent Andy Murray frowned upon and the crowd booed Tsitsipas for.
In the crucial fifth set, Alcatraz again hit form when it mattered. Roared on by a clearly partisan crowd, the talented Spaniard survived a breakpoint at 3-2 down in the deciding set. After that, he showed no sign of tension as he held serve to force the final tie-break that gave him victory.
It was an overall dazzling display by the 18-year-old. He landed 61 winners and clinched his third match point with an assured forehand winner after more than four hours of play. Alcatraz will next go against the German Peter Gojowczyk in the fourth-round.
Elsewhere in the men’s game, second seed Daniil Medvedev eased into round four with a straight-set win over Pablo Andujar. His fourth round opponent will be the Brit Daniel Evans, who knocked Alexei Popyrin out in the third round.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
