Carlos Alcaraz saved a match point to beat Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller in the US Open quarterfinals on Thursday morning.
Alcaraz battled past Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 in the latest ever finish in the tournament’s 141-year history.
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A five-hour 15-minute duel finished at 2:50am local time to beat the previous record for the latest finish to a US Open match was 2:26am.
.@carlosalcaraz HOW?!
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2022
The Spaniard saved match point at 4-5 in the fourth set and rallied to a famous victory.
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“Honestly, I still don’t know how I did it,” Alcaraz said. “You have to believe in yourself. I believed in my game.
“It was really difficult to close out the match. I tried to stay calm, but it is difficult in the moment.”
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As much skill was on display in the match, there was just as much courage and will. Both men refused to lose, but only one was able to advance.
Three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka also chimed in with his praise, asking “How good is this match Alcaraz-Sinner?”
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The level was so high, the match may be remembered as the moment in which Alcaraz and Sinner stepped out of the shadow of the ‘Big 3’ era.
What a fight.
We will see you again, @janniksin pic.twitter.com/5fSGs4QOAN
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2022
A shattered Sinner said the defeat was the hardest of his young career.
“I had some tough losses for sure, and this is in the top list,” the Italian said.
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“I think this one will hurt for quite a while but tomorrow – or today – I wake up and try to somehow take the positives but it’s tough for sure.”
