Alcaraz-continues-his-run-reaches-US-Open-quarterfinals

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, the world number two, continued his quest for a second title at the US Open, the last of the four Grand Slam tournaments, after his 2022 victory, by qualifying for the quarterfinals on Sunday against France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4.

The five-time Grand Slam winner faced resistance from the Frenchman in the first set, during which both players held their service games, leading to a tiebreak where Rinderknech led 2-1 before Alcaraz rallied and sealed it 7-3.

Things were less complicated for the 22-year-old in the second set, as he broke the serve of the 82nd-ranked player in the sixth game to lead 4-2, on his way to sealing it 6-3.
“Carlitos” waited until the ninth game to break Rinderknech’s serve in the third set (5-4), before sealing it 6-4.

In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz will face the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, who defeated French veteran Adrian Mannarino (37 years old) in his first round of 16 at Flushing Meadows, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

In the women’s draw, American Jessica Pegula, ranked fourth in the world, reached the quarterfinals by defeating her compatriot Ann Lee 6-1, 6-2.

Last year’s runner-up sealed the match with complete ease in just 55 minutes.

Pegula imposed absolute dominance in the first set, winning all four of her opponent’s service games in the first, third, fifth, and seventh games, while facing just one break of her own serve in the fourth game, on her way to sealing it 6-1 in just 25 minutes.

The world number four followed the same pattern in the second set, breaking the serve of the 58th-ranked player in the fourth game to lead 3-1, and again in the eighth game on her way to sealing it 6-2.

In the quarterfinals, Pegula will face the winner between the Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 Roland Garros champion and 2024 Wimbledon champion, and another American, Taylor Townsend.

The player seeking her first Grand Slam title said, “I played against her at Roland Garros this year, and we had two tough sets,” adding, “When she improves her serve, she becomes really dangerous. But I felt she started the match slowly and nervously, so I wanted to take advantage of that.”

US Open

The US Open is one of the four major Grand Slam tennis tournaments, held annually in New York City. It was first contested in 1881 and has been played on its current hard court surfaces at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center since 1978. The event is renowned for its high-energy atmosphere and its history of crowning many of the sport’s greatest champions.

Grand Slam

“Grand Slam” refers to the achievement of winning all four major tennis tournaments—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open—in a single calendar year. This term originated in the card game bridge before being adopted by tennis in the 1930s. It represents one of the most prestigious accomplishments in the sport.

Flushing Meadows

Flushing Meadows is a large public park in Queens, New York, most famous for hosting the 1939 and 1964 World’s Fairs. Its iconic landmarks, such as the Unisphere and the New York State Pavilion, are enduring symbols from these global exhibitions. Today, it is also home to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the US Open is held annually.

Roland Garros

Roland Garros is a major tennis complex in Paris, France, best known as the annual host of the French Open, one of tennis’s four Grand Slam tournaments. It was inaugurated in 1928 and named after Roland Garros, a pioneering French aviator and World War I hero. The stadium’s signature red clay courts are a defining and challenging feature of the tournament.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is a district in southwest London best known as the home of the Wimbledon Championships, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, first held in 1877. The area is also famous for its vast and historic common land, Wimbledon Common, which provides a large public green space with a long history dating back to the Norman Conquest.