Tennis is a skillful sport, and at major tournaments, the best players rise to the challenge and put on a show with their best moves. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s quarterfinal match was a mouthwatering clash. However, amongst several jaw-dropping moments, one outstanding shot stood out as the game’s high point.
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The second-longest match in the US Open ever witnessed the Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz evolve in the game to defeat the 11th seed Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz’s victory propelled him into his first Grand Slam semifinal, where he will face Frances Tiafoe, a local favorite, for a spot in the final.
Carlos Alcaraz‘s epic backstroke
The quarter-final encounter included the top two young tennis players in the world—11-seed Jannik Sinner and 3-seed Carlos Alcaraz. Living up to the hype, the match was one of the most thrilling encounters ever. However, it was Carlos’ five-minute shot that caught everyone’s attention rather than the five-hour-long game.
CARLOS ALCARAZ ARE YOU KIDDING ME 🤯
WHAT A SHOT.
(via @usopen)pic.twitter.com/K5TWhWhsQj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 8, 2022
In the 12th game of the second set, Alcaraz sprinted down the line to cover the forehand side as Sinner hammered a ball through the middle. Alcaraz reacted quickly by making a leaping behind-the-back swipe at the ball, and he made the finest trick shot of the tournament, even with no time to switch directions or flip his shoulders.
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The Spaniard won the first set 6-3, but in the second set, while moving to the 12th game on serve with Sinner holding off several break chances, to stay in the match was a struggle. However, Alcaraz performed a magical shot on the court to surprise Sinner. Sinner then made a poor drop shot, which Alcaraz punished with a goal of sending the game back to a set.
Alcaraz to face Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final
Carlos Alcaraz, the fourth-ranked player in the world, and Frances Tiafoe, the homeland’s personal favorite, will face off in the 2022 US Open semifinals on Friday. The fourth-round victory over Rafael Nadal by Frances Tiafoe, one of the biggest victories in his career, set up a clash with Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the US Open, which he eventually won.
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Carlos and Tiafoe have only faced off once before, with Tiafoe winning in straight sets at the Barcelona Open in 2021. Tiafoe might find it difficult to do the same this time around, though, because of the teenager’s well-rounded game. But the American is up for the challenge with his powerful swing and the home crowd pushing him on.