Spanish Teen Carlos Alcaraz Upsets No. 3 Seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to Reach the Fourth Round of the US Open

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning a Men’s Singles match at the 2021 US Open, Friday, Sep. 3, 2021 in Flushing, NY. (Garrett Ellwood/USTA)

(September 3, 2021) FLUSHING MEADOWS, New York – Spanish 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz provided the U.S. Open with the upset of the tournament on Friday when he stunned the No. 3 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2),0-6, 7-6(5) in the third round in Athur Ashe Stadium. The Spaniard is now the youngest player to beat a Top 3 player at the US Open since the ATP rankings began in 1973.

The Spanish teen rallied from 2-5 down in the third set, saving three sets points and breaking twice to take a two sets to one lead.

“I think without this crowd I would not have the possibility to win this match,” Alcaraz said during his on-court interview. “I was down at the start of the fourth set, so thank you to the crowd for pushing me through. It is an incredible feeling for me.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas returns a shot during a Men’s Singles match at the 2021 US Open, Friday, Sep. 3, 2021 in Flushing, NY. (Garrett Ellwood/USTA)

“He can be a contender for Grand Slam titles, and he has the game to be there,” the 23-year-old Greek Tsitsipas told media. “It was supposed to be my match. Today was a match that I shouldn’t have lost,” said Tsitsipas.

“This victory means a lot to me,” Alcaraz continued. “It is the best match of my career. Beating Stefanos Tsitsipas a dream come true.”

“I think the crowd was an important, how to say, it was important for me the crowd,” Alcaraz said to media. “I think without the crowd I couldn’t have the opportunity to play a great fifth set and be able to beat Stefanos. I think the crowd was really amazing. I really loved it.”

“When I fall into the court at the end of the match I thought my family and my friends, other people who was supporting me in Murcia. All my team was also supporting me from the academy.

“I thought every person that was supporting me from Murcia from the beginning of this history when I was a kid and everything. Was amazing.”

He’ll face qualifier Peter Gojowczyk of Germany for a chance at the quarterfinals.

In other men’s action, unseeded Frances Tiafoe knocked out fifth seed Andrey Rublev in five sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-1 to reach the round of 16 in a match that finished after two o’clock in the morning. The American will play Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the quarterfinals. The Canadian beat Roberto Bautista Agut in five sets.

No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev advanced in straight sets. Also moving on were No. 11 Diego Schwartzman, Dan Evans and qualifiers Boticvan de Zandschulp and Peter Gojowczyk.

More to follow….