NEW YORK (Reuters) – Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz beat 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-4 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 at the U.S. Open on Monday to set up a next generation quarter-final clash against Jannik Sinner.
After battling for three hours and 53 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the roof was closed due to rain, Alcaraz, 19, dropped to his knees in jubilation after sealing the contest on his first match point when Cilic’s return hit the net.
The sizeable crowd on the main showcourt gave the players a standing ovation with the clock striking 2.24 a.m., a couple of minutes short of the latest ever finish at the New York Grand Slam.
Alcaraz’s victory over the 15th-seeded Croatian ensured there will be a new men’s Grand Slam champion on Sunday and also kept the Spaniard in contention to become the youngest world number one when the ATP rankings are updated after the final.
The third seed will next meet 21-year-old Italian Sinner, seeded 11th, for a maiden Grand Slam semi-final spot.
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Peter Rutherford)
