USO’22 QF: #3 C Alcaraz (ESP) vs #11 J Sinner (ITA)

[DSH]

Last year Alcaraz doomed himself with back-to-back 5 setters early in the tournament and had to retire with nothing left in the tank against FAA.

We'll see how it shakes out this time. He's a year older and a year stronger, but this match was also way later and more intense than any of his other ones too.

I'm going with Big Foe!

 

[Bud]

Well, Alcaraz broke 11 times, Sinner 7 times.
Just as Sinner blew his chance in 4th set, Alcaraz had blown in the 3rd set.
But yeah, Sinner definitely could've made the semi had he played Ruud/Khachanov.

And set 2 even more! Missed a simple FH to the open court, right into the net. That would have won the set. Then lost it in the TB.

 

[happyandbob]

It’s 3 am. I have to give a presentation first thing in the morning. No way I’m going to relax enough to sleep after watching that match.

worth it

 

[Fedforever]

I'm glad Alcaraz won.

It would be nice if when we see the winner of this tournament we see the start of someone's great career and he seems the most likely candidate.

 

[Deleted member 765728]

It’s 3 am. I have to give a presentation first thing in the morning. No way I’m going to relax enough to sleep after watching that match.

worth it

That's the spirit.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

You can't imagine how happy I am! I am Carlos's biggest fan and I was very worried about Sinner but I felt that somehow Carlos would prevail! What a match! The longest in U.S. Open history! AMAZING! I am so excited! Carlos's first Grand Slam semi is coming on Friday! He was able to solve his Sinner problem! So happy!

 

[Tshooter]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1567755609839226881

 

[mr tonyz]

I think Alcaraz/Sinner QF went exactly 2 hours longer than both women's QFs combined!

 

[abmk]

And set 2 even more! Missed a simple BH to the open court, right into the net. That would have won the set. Then lost it in the TB.

will have to check that. I only started watching from closing stages of 3rd set.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

What a match and what a win for alcaraz. Props to both players for a real show. Carlos to had that bit extra fitness and quality at the end

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

It’s 3 am. I have to give a presentation first thing in the morning. No way I’m going to relax enough to sleep after watching that match.

worth it

Same here - no sleep again just like early Tuesday morning when I had two appointments starting at 7 a.m.!

 

[Breakpointerer]

What a night...

 

[Down_the_line]

It's his first Major SF!

I'm not necessarily knocking him. Sinner's restraint/temperance is simply more my speed.

On the flip side, I absolutely love Alcaraz's energy with the fans between points and after matches. He's a fun guy and interaction with fans - especially during a match - is always extra special. He'll be a hit at the US Open for a long time.

 

[augustobt]

will have to check that. I only started watching from closing stages of 3rd set.

Second set was the best of this match. Drama, action and lots of sick shots.

 

[optic yellow]

Holy **** what a tennis match.

 

[Fedforever]

You can't imagine how happy I am! I am Carlos's biggest fan and I was very worried about Sinner but I felt that somehow Carlos would prevail! What a match! The longest in U.S. Open history! AMAZING! I am so excited! Carlos's first Grand Slam semi is coming on Friday! He was able to solve his Sinner problem! So happy!

Happy for you.

Good to see a regular poster enthused about new talent and not trolling!

 

[Leonidas]

Man I can't get past these match winning reactions from Alcaraz after these last couple matches. He acts like he's won the title. I realize they have both been big, long, exciting night matches but it still feels like a little much when the job is far from over. It'll come with age and maturity, I hope.

On the other hand, can't believe what I just watched. That stuff was next level from both Alcaraz and Sinner. Sort of brought me back to Agassi/Safin in the 2004 Australian SF.

After being a match point down against an incredible rival, over 5 hours, I would fall to the ground as well. Stop the absurd criticism

 

[James P]

Second set was the best of this match. Drama, action and lots of sick shots.

Second set was awesome, back half of the third set was awesome. Intermittent awesomeness sprinkled through all five sets, though.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I'm glad that Alcaraz won. He was better player. I hope he wins his first slam here and get #1 position soon.

 

[Rafa4GOAT]

Wow… no words bro

 

[optic yellow]

He's almost got the legs of a young Rafa

He kinda does.

 

[James P]

I'm glad that Alcaraz won. He was better player. I hope he wins his first slam here and get #1 position soon.

Soon would be Monday.

 

[stringertom]

Biggest statistical difference: Sinner served 43 more points to reach deep into a fifth set. The war of attrition was won there because anyone that has ever played the sport knows how much more work the server is exposed to in those long deuce games.

 

[Down_the_line]

Tiafoe reacted like he won the CYGS when he beat Nadal in the 4th round. Basically all these guys still in it are going through new career highs together, so it won't come at a cost. It's not like there's a fully settled Djokovic waiting in the next round to show them that this is just another day for him.

Fair. As I said to someone else, it's more a personal opinion of mine than any kind of knock on Alcaraz. He's not doing anything wrong. I just tend to relate more to the laser-like focus after every match leading to an explosion of emotion when a player wins that championship point

 

[Nadal - GOAT]

I'm glad that Alcaraz won. He was better player. I hope he wins his first slam here and get #1 position soon.

Agree.. he had no business losing the 2nd set as he missed a sitter on set point.

He was the better player overall and should win the USO..

 

[Fedforever]

It’s 3 am. I have to give a presentation first thing in the morning. No way I’m going to relax enough to sleep after watching that match.

worth it

Don't worry - adrenalin will carry you through. You can collapse afterwards.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Probably taking the same gear.

They've both had all their vaccines! Plus lots and lots of boosters!

Tiafoe should defeat an exhausted Carlitos in the semifinals.

Carlitos could come back out right now and go another five hours.

 

[tennisjedi]

How much does Alcaraz have left in the tank?

 

[D.Nalby12]

Alcaraz proved he has not become pigeon to Sinner. This win may prove crucial in their rivalry. May be it's turning point.

 

[augustobt]

Being a better player isn't enough. Carlos was the better player for 95% of the second set and still fall short there. Then he missed a backhand on the third and it was gone as well.

 

[Bud]

How much does Alcaraz have left in the tank?

He really didn't look that tired after the match. He's clearly put in the work.

 

[DSH]

They've both had all their vaccines! Plus lots and lots of boosters!



Carlitos could come back out right now and go another five hours.

Endless stamina?

 

[augustobt]

Alcaraz proved he has not become pigeon to Sinner. This win may prove crucial in their rivalry. May be it's turning point.

It will surely pump Sinner in the next matches, I can guarantee you that.

 

[D.Nalby12]

If Alcaraz is ATG material - he will definitely beat whoever left in the draw now. This was his toughest opponent mentally and also level wise.

 

[Bud]

If Alcaraz is ATG material - he will definitely beat whoever left in the draw now. This was his toughest opponent mentally and also level wise.

I can't imagine him losing to anyone left in the draw after that win.

 

[optic yellow]

Like seriously wow what a tennis match. I really wish I'd been able to catch all of it but I'm glad I at least got to follow along for the final set. Shocking how high they kept the level throughout that considering the circumstances. Women's matches just never give you the epic drama like this because BO3 is not a big enough container for it.

 

[D.Nalby12]

It will surely pump Sinner in the next matches, I can guarantee you that.

Sure. But 3 losses in a row including big choke job on breakthrough opportunity might have crushed belief that Alcaraz has. Winning this was crucial for Alcaraz.

 

[Baseline_Bungle]

Endless stamina?

With a heavyweight's musculature, nonetheless. The blindness of 99% of tennis fans never ceases to amaze me.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I can't imagine him losing to anyone left in the draw after that win.

He lost AO to Berrettini - the guy still in draw.

 

[stringertom]

We may hate the Nike square collar shirts, but they're getting a LOT of screen time. 3 of 4 semifinalists. 6 of 8 quarterfinalists.

The one SFist outlier wears a decent design from Yonex but I like their black/white combo instead of the wine/white combo. The women’s kit worn by Garcia is nice!

 

[Bud]

With a heavyweight's musculature, nonetheless. The blindness of 99% of tennis fans never ceases to amaze me.

They was someone earlier in the thread saying he had no weapons

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

Holy **** what a tennis match.

Carlos has been involved in almost all of the very best men's tennis matches of 2022! (Rafa defeating Medvedev in the AO final excepted!) He is just incredible!

 

[DSH]

With a heavyweight's musculature, nonetheless. The blindness of 99% of tennis fans never ceases to amaze me.

The show must go on, you and we all know it.

 

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

He lost AO to Berrettini - the guy still in draw.

Berrettini is NOT still in the draw! Ruud defeated him! Khachanov and Tiafoe and Ruud and Alcaraz are still in the draw!

 

[EpitomeOfAwesome]

Skillwise Alcaraz is ahead of Tiafoe but I wonder how much he has left in the tank.
He might beat himself in the semi.

 

[Chanwan]

How much does Alcaraz have left in the tank?

enough, I think

 

[D.Nalby12]

Berrettini is NOT still in the draw! Ruud defeated him! Khachanov and Tiafoe and Ruud and Alcaraz are still in the draw!

Oh good. I'm not following what is happening in that half of draw. So boring Lol

 

[Chanwan]

He lost AO to Berrettini - the guy still in draw.

?? Berri lost to Ruud

 

[Bud]

Berrettini is NOT still in the draw! Ruud defeated him! Khachanov and Tiafoe and Ruud and Alcaraz are still in the draw!

He demolished Berry in straights

 

[Voyager]

How did Novak beat him in Wimbledon? Sinner is really impressing me.

By punishing his weak second serve

Alcaraz deserved to win because of the 2nd serve points won and the amount of times he broke serve

Btw break points won should be highlighted by how many breaks and not by percentage