Alcaraz dismisses Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to succeed in US Open semis
Carlos Alcaraz is having not solely a second however a season. The twenty-two-year-old leads the tour with six titles, together with three on the Masters 1000 degree and a grand slam at Roland Garros. The previous world #1, presently #2, is edging nearer to reclaiming the highest spot from Jannik Sinner, the defending US Open champion.
His quarterfinal opponent, Jiri Lehecka, the 20th seed, posed a frightening problem. The twenty-three-year-old from Czechia defeated Alcaraz in three units earlier this season in Doha and misplaced in three units within the championship match on the Queens Membership.
In Arthur Ashe Stadium, Lehecka served first and with two double faults dumped serve whereas Alcaraz hit a surprising inside-in forehand to consolidate the break at love.
AP Photograph/Heather Khalifa
Lehecka led 30-15 then confronted a break level following his third double fault after which deuce earlier than holding, whereas Alcaraz held at love for 3-1 with a 122mph ace up the tee. The 20th seed missed three consecutive first serves however with an ace up the tee and an unreturnable, held to 15 for 2-3.
The 2nd seed struck three consecutive winners, together with an ace out huge on recreation level, to guide 4-2. Lehecka replied in type, putting three winners, together with a 119mph ace out huge, and held to 15 for 3-4.
Alcaraz, serving with new balls, opened with a double fault however with a colossal serve up the tee, held to 30 for 5-3 whereas Lehecka, serving to remain within the set, missed 4/5 first serves but held to 15 for 4-5.
The 2022 US Open champion missed 4/8 first serves however secured the set 6-4 with a blistering backhand down the road move and an unforced error from his opponent.
Lehecka served first within the second and, because the errors continued to mount, confronted a double break level, and dropped serve whereas Alcaraz held simply to 15 to consolidate the break.
Lehecka opened the third with a incredible backhand volley down the road and held to like to get on the board. The previous world #1 hit a surprising forehand drop volley and his third ace on recreation level to guide 3-1. Lehecka confronted a break level and deuce however held for 2-3 with a crisp crosscourt backhand volley and a mishit forehand from the Spaniard.
Alcaraz continued to pummel the ball off each wings and, intermittently, serve and volley. With two consecutive jaw-dropping winners, the second seed held to 30 for 4-2. Lehecka serving with new balls, missed 4/6 first serves, confronted double break level, and dropped serve with this fourth double fault. Alcaraz served for the set and clinched it 6-2 with a second serve ace!
The Czech served first within the third and although he gifted two consecutive unforced errors, held to 30 whereas the Spaniard opened with a double fault however held to 15 with three winners, together with his fifth ace.
Lehecka continued to go toe to toe with the Spaniard and with three consecutive winners together with a 128mph ace, held to 30 for 2-1 whereas Alcaraz held to 15 to degree. Lehecka made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 whereas Alcaraz held to like with an unbelievable crosscourt forehand drop shot.
Lehecka opened the seventh with a rare inside-in forehand winner and although he confronted break level and deuce, held for 4-3 when Alcaraz whiffed a volley.
The 5-time grand slam champion opened with a exceptional inside-in forehand winner and held at love for parity. Lehecka made 4/6 first serves, however three consecutive errors price him as he confronted a break level and dumped serve.
Alcaraz served for the match and secured victory at love with three astonishing winners. He has reached the penultimate spherical on the season’s ultimate slam for the third time in 5 years.
It was a assured and poised efficiency from the world #2. He completed with 5 aces, two double faults, and received 84% of first and a staggering 73% of second serve factors. Consequently, he didn’t face a break level and transformed 4/9. He struck twenty-eight winners to seventeen unforced errors and received virtually thirty extra factors than Lehecka.
His semifinal opponent has but to be decided, however both means, it’ll current a formidable problem. He’ll both battle final 12 months’s finalist and world #4, Taylor Fritz or the 24-time grand slam champion, Novak Djokovic. Both means, it guarantees to be a Large Apple blockbuster!
