Carlos Alcaraz has a way of making the game look effortless.
His forehand landed perfectly, and he was making return shots that leave most players scrambling. It’s almost as if his opponents are on their backs when he’s in full swing.
In the US Open Quarter Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, he showcased his skill by defeating Gililehecca 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Next, he’ll take on the winner of the match between Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
Ranked second in the world, Alcaraz has yet to lose a single set in the tournament. Interestingly, no male player has ever won the US Open without dropping at least one set.
“It feels amazing and really comfortable,” Alcaraz mentioned. “I think I played nearly a perfect match today.”
Lehecka, ranked 20th, nearly gained the upper hand at 3-2 in the second set. He kept Alcaraz on his toes during a lengthy rally. Yet, Alcaraz managed to respond with a perfectly placed backhand drop volley that left Lehecka unable to reach it. The crowd at Arthur Ashe erupted in applause, and Alcaraz playfully pointed to his ears in appreciation.
After winning the game, he took control and secured the next two sets.
His service game was impressive—he won 38 out of 45 points on his first serve and faced no breakpoints during the match.
“I knew that to beat Carlos, I had to win some key points, but he won all of them,” said Lehecka. “Even when I put pressure on him, came to the net, or tried something different, he always had an answer.”
Last year’s US Open saw Alcaraz stunned in the second round by Botic van de Zandschulp. However, this year, aside from sporting a different hairstyle, he looks back to his usual form. After claiming victory against Janik Sinner at the French Open final and then losing to him at Wimbledon earlier this summer, the two might meet again in a final showdown.
Sinner will be competing against Lorenzo Musetti in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.
Both players have emerged during a time dominated by legends like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz and the 24-year-old Sinner have claimed the last seven major championships between them—three for Alcaraz and four for Sinner.
This seems to be a new era in tennis, and Alcaraz is steadily establishing himself as one of its leading figures.
If he continues to perform well in this tournament, he could reclaim the No. 1 ranking for the first time since September 2023.
“It’s really difficult not to think about it,” Alcaraz admitted.
