Carlos Alcaraz has reached the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slams in the same season for the first time in his career.
Defeating Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday, the 22-year-old Spaniard became the youngest man in the Open era to reach 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals.
Alcaraz, who won a point with a nifty behind-the-back shot in the first set, will take on Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday.
Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarterfinals with a win during his Aug. 31 match. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Probably a lot of people have [talked] about [how] I am not as [consistent] as I should be,” Alcaraz said after his 2-hour, 12-minute match. “But at the same time, those stats are really great to know for me, just to see that, you know, I’m making really good results in the really good tournaments. Obviously, I sometimes am really hard [on] myself that the quarterfinals is not enough, semifinal is not enough sometimes.
Arthur Rinderknech lost to Carlos Alcaraz during their Aug. 31 match. Getty Images
“But you have to see more than their shots, I have to see if I played well, and realize that semifinal or quarterfinal in a Grand Slam is pretty good result, though.”
Sunday also marked the first time in Alcaraz’s career that he reached a major quarterfinal without dropping a single set through the first four rounds.
Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his Aug. 31 match at the US Open. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Right now, I’m not thinking about last year anymore,” said Alcaraz, who was stunned by Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round at the 2024 tournament. “I’m just going to the court thinking like I’m playing well and just feeling great physically. I’m just hitting the ball really well, as well. I’m thinking about playing my best tennis and [enjoying] myself, you know, when I step on the court. That’s all I am thinking about when I’m approaching every match.”
In his first three matches, Novak Djokovic showed vulnerability.
He dropped a few sets.
He wasn’t at his best.
Novak Djokovic reacts after winning his match at the U.S. Open on Aug. 31. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Sunday night was a different story.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion and No. 7 seed had no trouble with Jan-Lennard Struff, cruising into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The win sets up a blockbuster quarterfinal against American Taylor Fritz, the No. 4 seed.
Djokovic is undefeated in 10 meetings against Fritz.
This was Djokovic, 38, excelling on his serve (12 aces, no double-faults), breaking Struff six times, winning a high percentage at the net, 15-of-18 points, and tallying 33 winners.
The result was never in doubt, Djokovic racing out to a four-love lead in the first set to set the tone for the quick one-hour, 49-minute match.