US Open: Carlos Alcaraz cruises into 2025 semifinals

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz defeated Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the US Open semifinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium despite not conceding a set at Flushing Meadows.

Alcaraz put on yet another almost flawless performance on Tuesday, firing off 28 winners with the palm of his hand. Novak Djokovic, a 24-time major champion, and Taylor Fritz, a fourth-seed in the US, will be his opponents next.

Lehecka is one of the few players to defeat Alcaraz this season, having already triumphed in the Doha quarterfinals, but the Spaniard couldn’t help but watch as his forehand winner zipped past on match point.

Alcaraz said, “This is going to be really tough” when you show the opponent you’re fresh, you can play two, three, more hours, you can play long rallies.

I’m fresh, I’m really good physically, and I’m a good person because of how I walk between points. I believe it’s crucial to convey to the opponent that they will sweat a lot and will need to run a lot if he wants to beat me.

Alcaraz broke in the first game, but a pair of Lehecka double faults helped him win, and in the 10th game, the Spaniard won a thrilling cat-and-mouse game by passing a backhand winner past the Czech.

Lehecka became apparent agitated as he went down another break with a double fault in the seventh game, but the 2022 champion kept the momentum going in the second set when he converted a break point at the net in the first game.

Alcaraz&nbsp grinned in disbelief as he drilled a number of precise shots to set the break point in the seventh game of the final set, but Lehecka held on.

Alcaraz used his golf swing to delight fellow Spaniard and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who was present, as he rallied 12-shots to win the ninth game.

He said, “I just played a really, almost, perfect match.” “I’m just feeling great and determined to make it.”

The five-time major champion, who hasn’t broken one record so far in the tournament, may try to avoid thinking about it while he regains the top spot in the world over Jannik Sinner from Italy.

He said, “I don’t want to put pressure on myself if I think about the number one spot too much, and that’s what I don’t want to do.”