DPA
London
New York acclaimed a new tennis star as 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz stunned third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
The Spaniard has already been hailed as Rafael Nadal’s successor and he seized his chance on the big stage in superb fashion with a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (2) 0-6 7-6 (5) victory.
Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed a rollercoaster encounter, with Alcaraz pegged back having led by a set and 3-0 but then recovering from 5-2 down to win the third set on a tie-break.
Tsitsipas was booed when he headed off court for another bathroom break, although this one was swift at less than four minutes, and the Greek looked poised to turn the match around when he swept through the fourth set.
But Alcaraz was not finished, and the teenager turned on the style again in the decider before coming through the final tie-break after four hours and six minutes.
In an on-court interview broadcast by Amazon Prime, Alcaraz, ranked 55, said: "I think without this crowd I haven’t the possibility to win the match. I was down at the beginning of the fourth set so thank you to the crowd for pushing me up in the fifth set.” "It’s an incredible feeling for me. This victory means a lot to me.
It’s the best match of my career, the best win, to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas is a dream come true for me.” Defeat ended a chastening week for Tsitsipas, who is used to being the popular young star but has found himself the centre of a storm over sportsmanship concerning his bathroom breaks and is now heading home prematurely.
Alcaraz is the youngest man to reach the last 16 in New York since Michael Chang and Pete Sampras in 1989, and he should have high hopes of going further, with unseeded German Peter Gojowczyk up next.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev made serene progress into the fourth round where he will meet Briton Dan Evans.
The Russian eased past Pablo Andujar-Alba 6-0 6-4 6-3 and never looked in danger.
Diego Schwartzman, seeded 11, also had a comfortable night, motoring past Alex Molcan 6-4 6-3 6-3.
Stefanos defends bathroom breaks following exit
Tsitsipas feels he has been misunderstood after the villain of the 2021 US Open was knocked out in the third round.
The third seed had come under fire for the timing and length of his toilet breaks, with Andy Murray heavily criticising him following their first-round match.
The crowd were again unhappy as Tsitsipas left court after losing the third set before coming back to bagel Alcaraz in the fourth - a further example of the gamesmanship he has been accused of.
Tsitsipas has labelled those "completely false” and says he has been made the villain "for no reason.” He said: "I’m not pretending that everyone loves me. My intentions are not to be loved by everyone. Every person can choose their favourite player, pick a side. I felt that way, but I kind of have ignored it.”
"Because people don’t know, that’s the thing. When people are not really in the sport and don’t know what is happening, I mean, all these accusations have been completely false.”
"Then the crowd here, I guess these two things were the most intense that took place here. I was surprised in a way. I don’t really let myself take me down because I’m out there playing my game. I mean, fan support is important, but I just need to go out there and perform. It doesn’t matter at that point.”
"I know all of these things have been against me for no reason. I took my toilet break as a normal athlete. Might have taken a bit longer than other athletes.”
"But if there is a rule that says there’s a specific amount of time that you are allowed to take, then I would probably try and follow that protocol, that rule, and stay within the guidelines and try and follow it as much as possible.”
"But I feel like people, they don’t understand. They are here for the show. They want to watch tennis. They’re very impatient, especially the new generation. They just want to get it done quick.” "For me the only thing I did is change from wet clothes to dry clothes. Apparently it’s a huge issue.”
While Tsitsipas was left defending himself, Alcaraz was basking in a "dream come true.” The Spaniard has already been hailed as Rafael Nadal’s successor and he seized his chance on the big stage in superb fashion.
"I have not words to explain how I feeling right now. I just don’t know what happened out there in the court. I can’t believe that I beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in an epic match,” he said. "For me it’s a dream come true.”
London
New York acclaimed a new tennis star as 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz stunned third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
The Spaniard has already been hailed as Rafael Nadal’s successor and he seized his chance on the big stage in superb fashion with a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (2) 0-6 7-6 (5) victory.
Arthur Ashe Stadium witnessed a rollercoaster encounter, with Alcaraz pegged back having led by a set and 3-0 but then recovering from 5-2 down to win the third set on a tie-break.
Tsitsipas was booed when he headed off court for another bathroom break, although this one was swift at less than four minutes, and the Greek looked poised to turn the match around when he swept through the fourth set.
But Alcaraz was not finished, and the teenager turned on the style again in the decider before coming through the final tie-break after four hours and six minutes.
In an on-court interview broadcast by Amazon Prime, Alcaraz, ranked 55, said: "I think without this crowd I haven’t the possibility to win the match. I was down at the beginning of the fourth set so thank you to the crowd for pushing me up in the fifth set.” "It’s an incredible feeling for me. This victory means a lot to me.
It’s the best match of my career, the best win, to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas is a dream come true for me.” Defeat ended a chastening week for Tsitsipas, who is used to being the popular young star but has found himself the centre of a storm over sportsmanship concerning his bathroom breaks and is now heading home prematurely.
Alcaraz is the youngest man to reach the last 16 in New York since Michael Chang and Pete Sampras in 1989, and he should have high hopes of going further, with unseeded German Peter Gojowczyk up next.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev made serene progress into the fourth round where he will meet Briton Dan Evans.
The Russian eased past Pablo Andujar-Alba 6-0 6-4 6-3 and never looked in danger.
Diego Schwartzman, seeded 11, also had a comfortable night, motoring past Alex Molcan 6-4 6-3 6-3.
Stefanos defends bathroom breaks following exit
Tsitsipas feels he has been misunderstood after the villain of the 2021 US Open was knocked out in the third round.
The third seed had come under fire for the timing and length of his toilet breaks, with Andy Murray heavily criticising him following their first-round match.
The crowd were again unhappy as Tsitsipas left court after losing the third set before coming back to bagel Alcaraz in the fourth - a further example of the gamesmanship he has been accused of.
Tsitsipas has labelled those "completely false” and says he has been made the villain "for no reason.” He said: "I’m not pretending that everyone loves me. My intentions are not to be loved by everyone. Every person can choose their favourite player, pick a side. I felt that way, but I kind of have ignored it.”
"Because people don’t know, that’s the thing. When people are not really in the sport and don’t know what is happening, I mean, all these accusations have been completely false.”
"Then the crowd here, I guess these two things were the most intense that took place here. I was surprised in a way. I don’t really let myself take me down because I’m out there playing my game. I mean, fan support is important, but I just need to go out there and perform. It doesn’t matter at that point.”
"I know all of these things have been against me for no reason. I took my toilet break as a normal athlete. Might have taken a bit longer than other athletes.”
"But if there is a rule that says there’s a specific amount of time that you are allowed to take, then I would probably try and follow that protocol, that rule, and stay within the guidelines and try and follow it as much as possible.”
"But I feel like people, they don’t understand. They are here for the show. They want to watch tennis. They’re very impatient, especially the new generation. They just want to get it done quick.” "For me the only thing I did is change from wet clothes to dry clothes. Apparently it’s a huge issue.”
While Tsitsipas was left defending himself, Alcaraz was basking in a "dream come true.” The Spaniard has already been hailed as Rafael Nadal’s successor and he seized his chance on the big stage in superb fashion.
"I have not words to explain how I feeling right now. I just don’t know what happened out there in the court. I can’t believe that I beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in an epic match,” he said. "For me it’s a dream come true.”