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

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This match has produced more quality Tennis than anything Djokodal have produced this year. Quality of Tennis went up thanks to youngsters. We have not seen this since more than a decade.

Yep I really enjoyed the first 3 sets before fatigue took over and I took my sleep. I just wish they'd fix up those first serves. Left it at Sinner up 2-0 in the 4th IIRC, and assumed he'd come through in 4. Whoops.

 

[zvelf]

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!

This was the latest match in U.S. Open history, but not the longest. The longest is 1992's Edberg-Chang semifinal at 5 hours 26 minutes. This one was 5 hours 15 minutes.

What time was the match over Eastern time?

2:50 a.m.

 

[Gumby]

One of the few times the ESPN hype was justified. They basically anointed these two at the torch bearers of men's tennis for the next 10 years. I for one totally agreed with them. In the olden days it would've been a problem that neither were American. Progress.

 

[speedysteve]

Just managed to catch up with this one.
Time diff, other things to do.
Thank goodness for Amazon prime replay!
Thank goodness it's easy enough to avoid the results over here!
What a match!
Long match!
Both played excellently I thought.
Was an exceptional level.
Forget the old guard, this is tennis today!

 

[Gumby]

I was thinking this during the entire match that this was more important for Carlos than Jannik, if he had lost 3 in a row, 2 of them on the big stage (Wimbledon, US Open) it would possibly have a carryover effect on his psyche for future encounters. The fact that they split their grand slam meetings is good for tennis.

We need these two to have some sort of parity to keep things unpredictable. I also like how they get along. Before the warmups Jannik was grabbing extra towels so he can split them with Carlos. I can feel the good sportsmanship between these two. It was good to see after the Kyrgios bratty meltdown the night prior. Tennis is in good hands with these two leading the way

 

[sportsfan1]

Ace count an area they could both improve upon, but then looking at the ace count of some other 5 set matches

• nadal vs med aus 2022 was 3-23 aces and
• Djokovic vs fed wimby '19 was 10-25.
• Isner vs mahut that wimby match 113 vs 103, other end of the spectrum

From https://www.atptour.com/en/news/opelka-infosys-beyond-the-numbers-aces-august-2020

Big Three’s Hard Court Aces Per Service Game

Rank	Player	Average Aces
1	Roger Federer	0.63
2	Novak Djokovic	0.45
3	Rafael Nadal	0.28

 

[bullfan]

I was thinking this during the entire match that this was more important for Carlos than Jannik, if he had lost 3 in a row, 2 of them on the big stage (Wimbledon, US Open) it would possibly have a carryover effect on his psyche for future encounters. The fact that they split their grand slam meetings is good for tennis.

We need these two to have some sort of parity to keep things unpredictable. I also like how they get along. Before the warmups Jannik was grabbing extra towels so he can split them with Carlos. I can feel the good sportsmanship between these two. It was good to see after the Kyrgios bratty meltdown the night prior. Tennis is in good hands with these two leading the way

Early in the match, Carlos checked with Sinner to see if he was alright when it looked like he may have tweaked something. THen gave a thumbs up in response to Sinner’s ok.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Just watched the full extended highlights. What an incredible level of tennis and fight from both players. This is gonna be some rivalry between both. Hard luck on sinner but on balance I think Carlos deserved the win in the end.

 

[netlets]

What is with all the hate? You put a huge bet on Sinner? Sinner didn't win this match, but he gave everything he had, and as a result, he mostly played even with and weathered an onslaught against a level of talent and athleticism currently unmatched on the tour.

Mostly even? He had match point to win it. That's way more than even in my book. He SHOULD have won. Credit to Alcaraz for his mental toughness and physical conditioning. Not sure you can recover from two best of 5 set matches that end after 2am though. It catches up with even the youngest players. This US Open is tailor made for Big Foe or the winner of Ruud/Khachanov to win.

 

[tennis24x7]

Mostly even? He had match point to win it. That's way more than even in my book. He SHOULD have won. Credit to Alcaraz for his mental toughness and physical conditioning. Not sure you can recover from two best of 5 set matches that end after 2am though. It catches up with even the youngest players. This US Open is tailor made for Big Foe or the winner of Ruud/Khachanov to win.

Yep I had posted about this earlier about his stamina. He could barely stand after for his on court interview. He is young but the two 5 setters will cost him. If he can get past Tiafoe in 3 sets which is doable then he has a chance, if not then he will have to wait till next year's FO.

 

[Bud]

I think it is now.

Sinner has definitely grown a couple inches. He looks close to 6'4 now.

 

[GhostDog]

Tried my damnest to stay up to watch this, drifted in & out of sleep from the 3rd set.

The behind the back shot by Alcaraz was just rediculous, I did see that live. He's a human background.

Watched the extended highlights on YouTube to fill in the gaps.

Just an epic, all time match, especially from sets 1-4. Sinner Should have closed deal in set 4, serving for the match.

Tiafoe vs Alcatraz is another potential classic but this will be hard to top.

 

[Rattie]

For those with access to Prime Video in the UK, there is a 16 minute highlights reel if you want to watch it.

 

[Mark Anderson]

Wow, I turned off the match and went to sleep because I thought Alcaraz was understandably mentally fried after losing all those chances and getting broken to start the fourth. My bad.

Seems like I got some replays to watch today.

I did too...Such wonderful scheduling.

 

[flyingboris]

Just watched the full extended highlights. What an incredible level of tennis and fight from both players. This is gonna be some rivalry between both. Hard luck on sinner but on balance I think Carlos deserved the win in the end.

Yeah, I watched some highlights too, not sure there are any better ones out there, but basically every points shown is out of this world. Twelve minutes of "I can't believe he did that". What a match, shame some of us have to sleep occasionally!

 

[reaper]

The difference between the two players was probably encapsulated in the final point. When serving for the match Sinner played a nervous and uncertain game. When it was match point to Alcaraz, Sinner tried to capitalise on any nerves Alcaraz might be feeling by holding his hand up to delay the serve. Alcaraz's response was a body serve that all but knocked Sinner out to finish him off. A fantastic match, but for the moment Alcaraz has that extra steel that can make a champion.

 

[saigonbond 2.0]

I had to take an ice bath after watching that match...

 

[Mike Sams]

Extended 46 minutes of highlights from the official US Open YouTube channel.

 

[Rafa4GOAT]

Extended 46 minutes of highlights from the official US Open YouTube channel.

And ofc it’s not available in my country

 

[Valmaxian]

This match is what it would look like if time traveling Terminators were sent back to play tennis instead.