(September 8, 2022) FLUSHING MEADOWS, New York – No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz saved a match point in the tenth game of the fourth set and went on to win a classic match over No, 11 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 to advance to his first major semifinal. the match which lasted 5 hours and 15 minutes, ended at 2;50 a.m. Eastern time, the latest match ending in US Open history.

Honestly,” said the Spanish teenager, “I still don’t know how I did it.”

“I felt great,” the 19-year-old Alcaraz said to media. “Probably at the end of the match I was in my end, let’s say. It was really, really tough for me. During the whole match, five hours, 15 minutes of match, I feel great physically.

“Of course, the level of tennis that we have played, it was really, really high. But I felt great.”

“I feel great to be in my first semifinal in a Grand Slam. I feel better reaching semifinal here in US Open. This tournament is amazing. The crowd is amazing, I would say the best in the world.

“I mean, the energy I receive in this court at 3 a.m., it was unbelievable. I mean, probably in other tournaments, other place, everybody went to their house to rest. But they keep in the court, supporting me. It was unbelievable.

“I feel great to have, well, play a semifinal here in US Open.”

“I don’t know,” said the Italian Sinner. “It’s not easy to talk now because I finish the match not so long ago.

“But it was a good match from my side, from his side. Could finish in three sets, could finish in four sets, could finish in five sets. The level was high.

“At some point I didn’t serve that well, but he was returning well. It was a good match. Obviously the crowd was good. For me only the second time on Ashe. So it was a good match for sure. But a very, very tough one.”

The disappointed Sinner talked to the media about the loss:

“I had some tough losses, for sure. This is in the top list. I think so. Concerning also the rest of the tournament, no, yeah, I think this one will hurt for quite a while.

“But tomorrow I wake up, or today I wake up, trying to somehow taking only the positives, trying to take away the other part.

“But it’s tough, for sure. Next tournament I will play Davis Cup. Before I want to practice again in the best possible way, trying to improve. Maybe next time I can win this, no?

“As I said, this kind of level was very high for sure. It was a good match. I hope also for the spectators. Yeah, last time I won and this time he won, that’s it.”

Alcaraz will play Frances Tiafoe, the 22nd see in the semifinals. Tiafoe was asked in his media conference about playing the winner of the Alcaraz- Sinner match and he said that he hoped that they’d play a super long match, which they did.

“I think it’s going to be a great match,” Tiafoe said. “I don’t really have a preference. Either guy is going to be tough. They’re both great players. I just hope they play a marathon match, super-long match, and they get really tired come Friday (smiling).

“No, they are both great players. It’s going to be great tennis. I think they will be Grand Slam champions when they have done their careers, for sure. Those two are unbelievable players. Great for the game.”

Alcaraz talked about playing Tiafoe for a place in the final:

“It’s going to be really, really tough. Frances, everybody know the level of Frances. He has beaten Rafa Nadal, Rublev in three sets. He’s playing unbelievable right now. High confidence.

“He loves the crowd. He loves this court. I’m going to have to put my best. But right now I’m thinking about this match. I’m enjoying this moment. I have a day of rest to think about the semifinal.

“But right now I’m going to enjoy with my team, my family, and that’s all.”

More to follow…

“