Carlos Alcaraz beats Arthur Rinderknech to reach US Open quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz continued his rich form as he bested big-serving Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing US Open on Sunday. The Spaniard registered a 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 triumph to move into the last eight of the tournament.

Alcaraz admitted both players failed to bring their best serve but he was able to get the momentum at the right time when it mattered the most.

“At the beginning of the first set, we were tight. We didn’t have break points in the first set, but it didn’t mean we were serving good, because the percentage was really bad from both,” said Alcaraz. “I just [found] a good rhythm, a good position for the returns… I tried to make the most of the opportunities that he gave me, but there weren’t too many.”

With his two-hour, 12-minute win, Alcaraz became the youngest man in the Open Era to reach 13 Slam quarter-finals.

In the fourth game of the opening set, Alcaraz sent the Arthur Ashe Stadium’s fans into a frenzy when he won a point while playing a behind-the-back shot on a half-volley, which was really smashed by Rinderknech.

“Sometimes I practise it, I’m not gonna lie,” Alcaraz said when asked of the shot. “I don’t practise it too many times, it’s just if the opportunity is there, I will try. Then in the match, it’s the same. If I have the opportunity, why not? I think the people like it… I like playing tennis like this, so it just came naturally.”

Alcaraz will next take on Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals of the New York Major on Tuesday. The young Spaniard has a 2-1 H2H record against Lehecka.