Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, reacts throughout his match towards Arthur Rinderknech, of France, within the fourth spherical of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photograph/Heather Khalifa)
NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz hit a behind-the-back shot on the US Open to win some extent in a 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Arthur Rinderknech on Sunday that made the Spaniard the youngest man within the Open period to achieve 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals.
“Typically, I follow it. I’m not going to lie,” the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz stated concerning the little bit of wizardry he delivered within the first set. “However I imply, I don’t follow it, like, too many instances. Simply in follow, if the chance is there, I’ll attempt. Within the match, it’s sort of the identical. If I’ve the chance, why not?”
READ: US Open: Knee problem doesn’t slow Carlos Alcaraz down in win
At 22 years and three months previous, Alcaraz is about 6 months youthful than Boris Becker was when he obtained to main quarterfinal No. 13.
Alcaraz’s opponent on Tuesday might be No. 20 Jiri Lehecka, a 23-year-old from the Czech Republic. Lehecka superior to his second Slam quarterfinal with a 7-6 (4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over Adrian Mannarino.
Early on towards Rinderknech, a Frenchman who performed school tennis at Texas A&M, Alcaraz closed a love maintain that made the rating 2-all in spectacular vogue. Transferring to his proper at midcourt, Alcaraz discovered himself in what seemed to be a nasty spot when Rinderknech wrong-footed him.
However Alcaraz wrapped his racket round his physique and flicked a shot up the road.
Now he is simply displaying off 🔥
Carlos Alcaraz goes behind the again! pic.twitter.com/aoneI7Luae
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2025
READ: US Open: Carlos Alcaraz banishes US Open demon to reach third round
Maybe startled that the purpose wasn’t over, Rinderknech hit a volley that landed within the internet. An enormous smile crossed Alcaraz’s face as he seemed over at his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, within the stands. Alcaraz then positioned his proper index finger behind his ear, as if acknowledging the spectators’ cheers.
“The folks prefer it; I like taking part in tennis like this,” Alcaraz stated. “My model of tennis matches fairly nicely to the power right here.”
Alcaraz wound up taking that set in a tiebreaker. Then, halfway by way of the second, Alcaraz produced one other highlight-worthy effort with a no-look passing winner, racing ahead to get to a brief ball and glancing down the road as if he was going to hit to Rinderknech’s backhand, however as an alternative steering a forehand cross-court.
By the final recreation, even Rinderknech was smiling at different next-level strokes by Alcaraz, who has received 54 of 55 service video games by way of 4 matches this yr at Flushing Meadows. He claimed the title right here in 2022 for the primary of his 5 Grand Slam trophies.
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Alcaraz is into his fourth main quarterfinal of 2025, the primary time in his profession he’s gone 4 for 4 in that class in a season. He misplaced to Novak Djokovic at that stage on the Australian Open in January, received the French Open in June and misplaced to No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the closing at Wimbledon in July.
Rinderknech was showing within the fourth spherical of a significant for the primary time.
