US Open: History-maker Alcaraz thrilled with ‘dream’ Flushing Meadows run

Alcaraz became the youngest men’s US Open quarter-finalist in the Open Era when he ousted Peter Gojowczyk 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-0 on Sunday (September 5).

The 18-year-old, who became the youngest man to defeat a top-three player at Flushing Meadows when he beat Stefanos Tsitsipas last week, is also the most junior male player at the New York grand slam since Thomaz Koch in 1963.

Similarly, Sunday’s triumph made him the youngest men’s singles quarter-finalist at any grand slam since Michael Chang (18) made the last eight at the 1990 French Open.

US Open: Alcaraz makes history with fairytale run

Alcaraz will now face another rising star – Felix Auger-Aliassime – for a place in the semi-finals.

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One #NextGenATP star will be in the semi-finals of the #USOpen pic.twitter.com/aacjfAN7D6

— Next Gen ATP Finals (@nextgenfinals) September 6, 2021

“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,” an ecstatic Alcaraz told reporters.

“It’s really tough to play these kinds of matches, to play fifth sets. I hope to play [in] more second weeks, to play more quarter-finals of grand slams.

“I didn’t expect to play in the quarter-finals here, so I think it’s a really good performance from me in these matches.”

Dubbed as the heir to Rafael Nadal’s thrown, Alcaraz has certainly had the crowd on his side during his run.

“In the first sets I thought that I reached my limit, physically and mentally. I think the crowd was really, really important for me in this situation,” Alcaraz added.

“I felt the energy of the crowd pushing me up. I think without the crowd, it couldn’t be possible to be here.”

Alcaraz faces a stern test in the form of world number 15 Auger-Aliassime, who has reached his second straight grand slam quarter-final.

However, the 21-year-old Canadian – who is aiming to secure a maiden appearance in the last four of a major – knows the quality Alcaraz possesses.

“He’s a great player. At some point age is just a number. He already feels like a player who’s established,” Auger-Aliassime said of Alcaraz.

“He’s playing some amazing tennis, so I think we’ll see a lot of him, a lot of us, a lot of Frances [Tiafoe] in the future.”