NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz hit a behind-the-back shot to win a degree within the first set of his U.S. Open match in opposition to Arthur Rinderknech within the fourth spherical on Sunday.
The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz closed a love maintain that made the rating 2-all in spectacular style. Transferring to his proper at midcourt, Alcaraz discovered himself in what gave the impression to be a foul spot when Rinderknech — a 30-year-old from France who performed school tennis at Texas A&M — wrong-footed him.
However Alcaraz wrapped his racket round his physique and flicked a shot up the road ( see it right here ).
Rinderknech, maybe startled that the purpose wasn’t over, 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.
Alcaraz wound up taking that set in a tiebreaker.
He had misplaced a complete of simply 23 video games by his first three matches this 12 months at Flushing Meadows, the place he claimed the title in 2022 for the primary of his 5 Grand Slam trophies.
At 22 years and three months outdated, Alcaraz was attempting to get to his fourth main quarterfinal of 2025, which might be the primary time in his profession that he went 4 for 4 in that class in a season. He misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the quarterfinals on the Australian Open in January, gained the French Open in June and misplaced to No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the closing at Wimbledon in July.
A victory over Rinderknech additionally would permit Alcaraz to turn into the youngest man within the Open period, which started in 1968, to succeed in 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals.
Rinderknech was showing within the fourth spherical of a significant for the primary time.
