Carlos Alcaraz: The Spanish teenager making the headlines at the US Open

Looking at this year’s US Open, not many people would have predicted 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz to make the quarter-finals. With all the talent involved at Flushing Meadows, including former Grand Slam winners Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, as well as the likes of Alexander Zverev looking for a first title, it is testament to the Spaniard to still be in the running.

Alcaraz, who turned pro in 2018, came in as a massive underdog as a 12th seed and upset those betting on tennis at Betfair when he beat German Peter Gojowczyk in five sets to reach the quarter-final. For someone so young to come in and do so well in their Grand Slam debut is impressive, but to go as far as they have done is record breaking. He became the youngest player to reach the last eight since the Open Era began — and whilst riding a crest of a wave, it will be hard for anyone to disrupt his winning run now.

Throughout the tournament there has been plenty of dramatic moments and major upsets. In a tournament where we have seen Diego Schwartzman dumped out in five sets by world number 117 Botic van de Zandschulp, anything looks possible, and while Alcaraz’s age will be the main talking point with regards to his victory, the manor in which he overcame his German opponent was remarkable. Having been down two sets to one, the Spaniard played with a courage and youthful exuberance that Gojowczyk simply couldn’t match, the fearlessness in which he swung momentum in his favour was very impressive.

Alcarez already boosted his fan club when he eliminated Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek had frustrated many over the course of the tournament with his lengthy toilets breaks — his win against Murray led to a number of provocative digs via social media. It was safe to say that the win at Flushing Meadows caught the attention of a few, but his most recent victory certainly raised some eyebrows in the tennis betting tips. For someone entering the latter stages of the competition, the teenager has remained humble and emphasised how he is just enjoying the chance to play in the Big Apple: “I’m super excited to be in my first second week in the Grand Slam, so it’s amazing for me. It’s a dream come true,” Alcaraz said.

“It’s really tough to play these kind(s) of matches, to play fifth sets. I hope to play more second weeks, to play more quarter-finals of Grand Slams. I didn’t expect to play quarter-finals here. So I think it’s a really good performance from me in these matches.”

Next up for Alcaraz is Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian is just three years older, having turned 21 last month but will be hungry to finally go all the way in a tournament having finished a runner-up eight times. He reached the quarter-final at Wimbledon but came up short to the more experienced Matteo Berrettini before the Italian lost the final to Djokovic. Auger-Aliassime provides worthy opposition for Alcaraz, with wins over Frances Tiafoe and Roberto Bautista Agut already. Either way, a youngster will progress to the semi final at Flushing Meadows, but with the good form Alcaraz has put together, he will certainly take some beating.  

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