Carlos Alcaraz defeats Janic Ciner in epic 5-set match to reach US Open semifinals

 Carlos Alcaraz defeats Janic Ciner in epic 5-set match to reach US Open semifinals

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Janic Ciner in epic 5-set match to reach US Open semifinals

NEW YORK - It was a game that wouldn't end. It shouldn't end, you might say. Carlos Alcaraz and Janic Sinar, two of the brightest young stars in men's tennis, traded high-quality shots and gained countless swings of momentum throughout five excellent sets of 5 hours and 15 minutes until Alcaraz finally won the last point at 2:50 p.m. Thursday in US Open history. end end

It was "just" a quarter-final, with no trophy, but this tournament made a thriller as exciting as it could be, a tour de force of big cuts and a lot of courage throughout the sprint, a 6 -3. , 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 for 19-year-old Spaniard Alcaraz, the third seed.

"Honestly," said Alcaraz, who saved a match point in the fourth set at Arthur Ashe Stadium, "I still don't know how I did it."

He also used the words "incredible" and "amazing". No hyperbole there.

"It's going to hurt for quite some time," the 21-year-old Italy No. 11 said. "

Finished point 382 and confirmed, Ciner and Alcarez embrace. A handshake won't be enough on the net.

Alcaraz, whose five-set win over 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic ended at 2:23 p.m. On Tuesday, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal and became the youngest person to do so at the US Open since Pete Sampras won the title at age 19. 1990. Alcaraz, who has a chance to move up to No. 1 in the rankings next week, faces United States No. 22 Francis Tiafoe on Friday. The day's other men's semifinal pits No. 5 Kasper Rudd of Norway against No. 27 Karen Khachanov of Russia.

This match will start on Wednesday at 9:35 PM. And easily surpassed the previous mark at the last US Open, which was at 2:26 a.m. He split three matches.

It wasn't just delayed, it was longer: the 5-hour, 26-minute match between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in 1992 took longer than the US Open.

"I always say you always have to believe in yourself," Alcaraz said. "The last thing you lose is hope."

After his more mundane three-set quarterfinal win over Andrei Rublev that ended at 4:45 p.m. On Wednesday, Tiafoe was coy when asked about Alcaraz and Sinar.

"I just hope they play a marathon match, a super long match," Tiafoe said with a smile, "and they'll be very tired on Friday."

When asked later how he felt physically against Ciner, Alcarez began with a quick response: "I felt really good." He then paused and smiled before continuing, "Well, towards the end of the match, I was at the end of myself."

It is already 2 pm. While 18-year-old American Coco Goff, who finished runner-up at the French Open and lost in the quarterfinals of the US Open on Tuesday, tweeted for anyone to focus on Alcaraz vs Siner: "This match is crazy. I'm going for it. Morning. Airport at 6 but I refuse to sleep and miss it. #पैपी #अलकाराज"

Still, even with thousands of empty seats, there were enough available to feel like a full house at times. Both players will swing their rackets or arms to encourage fans to make more noise. And naturally, fans will indulge him.

"He could have finihed in three sets. He could have finished in four sets. He could have finished in five sets," Sinner said. "We both wanted to win for sure. We both gave our best."

It was as lagging as could be. Highlights were high on the list: Alcarez won a point by extending a game by wrapping his racket behind his back to make contact with the ball. One more: Alcarez lands on his back, then runs in to hit a backhand to win the point.

After taking the first set, Alcaraz had five set points in the second, but Cena saved them all.

In the third, Alcaraz broke for a 6-5 lead and served for the set, but Cena forced a tie break that he dominated.

In the fourth, it was Senna who served for a 5-4 win, he even came within a point of winning there, but Alcaraz broke there and hit a masterpiece already in the fifth.

And in the fifth, after hitting another memorable shot, a quick backhand pass winner that sailed past Sinner's outstretched arm, Alcaraz took a finger to the ear for a break point opportunity and a 5-3 lead.

He will convert that chance and then serve it. When it was over, Alcaraz threw himself on his back, chest folded, and covered his face with his hands.