Key events
Right, enough golf chat; it’s time to wrap up our coverage now. We’ll have a report on Alcaraz’s win shortly, and reports on the night action much later, but in the meantime here’s Bryan’s take on Pegula’s win. Many thanks for your company as always; Daniel will be here tomorrow to take you through the remaining quarter-finals. Bye!
Alcaraz is being interviewed on Sky now. Laura Robson asks if Tim Henman can join the golf match with Garcia. Alcaraz reveals Henman is NFI. “We just set up a round with four people already. Tim, don’t worry, we’ll set up another.” He’s smiling so much it’s impossible for him to upset Henman, who then reveals he was on the course with Alcaraz after Queen’s: “There were eight of us. But Carlos and Juan Carlos [Alcaraz’s coach] played with Andy Murray. I played with Alex de Minaur and Lleyton Hewitt. I didn’t get the chance to play Carlos, but I look forward to it.”
Up next for Alcaraz in the last four: Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz. They play in the night session, after Aryna Sabalenka v Marketa Vondrousova.
Ignore the caption on that video – it’s Alcaraz’s ninth not eighth slam semi. He’s behind only Rafa Nadal and Boris Becker in making it nine at the age of only 22. Meanwhile on Sky another of the greats, Martina Navratilova, gives him an A for his New York efforts so far. She then ponders how many slams he could actually win. He’s already on five. “He’s still so young and he’s got 15 years left if he stays healthy,” she marvels. Another stat: he could become the first man to win the US Open without losing a set.
Alcaraz is asked in the on-court interview if he ever watches his highlight reels. “I don’t, but sometimes when I go to the living room my little brothers are and then I’ll sit down and watch it and enjoy again,” he smiles. As for whether he’s thinking about the fact he’ll regain the world No 1 ranking if he wins the tournament, he says: “It’s very difficult not to think about it. Every time I step on to court I’m trying not to, if I think about it too much I’ll put pressure on myself.” And will he hit the golf course now he’s got two days off before his semi-final? “100%. It’s something that is working.” He then reveals he’ll be playing with Sergio Garcia, who’s in the crowd. “He has to give me at least 10 to 15 shots. I’m not that good. Sergio, come on!”
Alcaraz beats Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Alcaraz has been imperious on serve in this third set, dropping only two points, and he’s swiftly at 30-0 here, after a winning volley. Lehecka lamps his return into the net and it’s 40-0. The crowd are screaming. The umpire tells them to calm down. And Alcaraz, aptly, rounds things off with another eye-catching winner! Cue his golf swing celebration. That was masterful. Anything Sinner can do … Alcaraz has sent a message straight back to the world No 1.
Alcaraz breaks: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 4-5 Alcaraz*
Lehecka’s shot clips the tape and lands back on his side of the court. Which just about sums up the Czech’s luck today. So it’s 30-all and the serving pressure is right back on him. He overcooks his shot and it’s break point. A decent first serve gives him the initiative … but he just can’t put Alcaraz away, Alcaraz is a human backboard … and the Spaniard superbly turns defence into attack to break! He’s a game away. He’s roaring in delight. He wants to get this done.
Third set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-6, 4-4 Alcaraz
But Lehecka just can’t do any damage on Alcaraz’s serve. After another prolonged hold for him, Alcaraz’s hold takes just four points. The pressure is straight back on Lehecka, who knows he must hold here, otherwise Alcaraz will be serving for the match.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 4-3 Alcaraz*
What’s been so impressive from Alcaraz this tournament is how few lapses he’s had, which has been a weakness of his in the past. He’s been so locked-in from the first round, and so locked-in throughout every match, and this is the first time he hasn’t dropped a set on his way to a quarter-final at a slam. And once he gets to this stage of any tournament, he’s so formidable. At 30-all on Lehecka’s serve, Alcaraz decides to press the accelerator, and here’s the first break point of the set. But Lehecka digs deep. At Lehecka’s advantage, Alcaraz turns into an octopus at the net, but it’s still not enough to withstand the barrage of hitting from Lehecka. The Czech comes out on top on one of the crowd-pleasing points for once.
Third set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-6, 3-3 Alcaraz
A rare lapse from Alcaraz in that last game. He is human, after all. But he doesn’t let up on serve here, hurtling to 15-0, 30-0, 40-0 and game.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 3-2 Alcaraz*
At 15-all, Alcaraz settles a prolonged exchange by moving forward and knocking off a backhand volley. A wry smile from the Spaniard when he misses the chance to make it 15-40. so instead it’s 30-all and this time it’s Lehecka’s turn to come to the net to settle matters … he can’t put the volley past Alcaraz, but Alcaraz hits long anyhow. Lehecka holds to 30.
Third set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-6, 2-2 Alcaraz
As joyful and life-affirming as watching Alcaraz is, though, it’s a bit disappointing we haven’t had closer quarter-finals today. And that’s after seven out of eight of yesterday’s fourth-round matches were settled in straight sets too. Cue another easy hold for Alcaraz, to 15.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 2-1 Alcaraz*
At 15-all, some more sorcery from Alcaraz as he chips a forehand cross-court drop shot for the winner off Lehecka’s return! That could even be the best of the lot from Alcaraz today. Does he actually practise shots like that? Or is it totally improvised? It’s quite incredible. A shellshocked Lehecka concedes the next point too. And Alcaraz settles the game with an ace. And Lehecka then holds to 30 but everyone is still thinking about that shot.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 1-0 Alcaraz*
Lehecka’s resorting to some serve-volleying to try to change the script. It gets him back from 0-30 to 30-all on serve. Alcaraz then pulls the trigger … but his cross-court forehand crashes into the net. And Lehecka holds. Which is more than he managed to do at the start of the first and second sets. Let’s see if he can build on it.
Alcaraz wins the second set 6-2
Alcaraz accelerates to 40-15 and seals it with an ace out wide. He’s a set away from his third US Open semi-final.
Alcaraz breaks: Lehecka 4-6, 2-5 Alcaraz*
Ooohs and aaaahs as Alcaraz works the angles on the opening point and Lehecka hits the net post. 0-15. 0-30. And 15-40, after some absolutely brutal hitting from the Spaniard. Lehecka dispatches a winning volley on the first break point … but double faults on the second! Not only is it a double fault but a double break. Alcaraz will serve for the second set and, barring an absolute overturn of tennis’s order, I can’t see a way back for Lehecka from there.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-4 Alcaraz
Laura Robson points out on the Sky commentary that Alcaraz is ready to play again about 30 seconds before the end of every changeover; he’s like a kid out there, with his endless energy and enthusiasm. He does slip 0-30 down, though, which is about as much jeopardy as he’s experienced on serve today. 15-30 then looks for everyone apart from Alcaraz as if it’s going to turn into 15-40 and Lehecka’s first break points … but Alcaraz hits a ridiculous backhand volley winner on the stretch! He’s cupping his ear to his adoring crowd. So instead it’s 30-all. And, very predictably, that quickly becomes game.
Second set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-3 Alcaraz*
Lehecka catches the line for 15-0. Or rather his shot does. Alcaraz comes back for 15-all, and then sprints across the court to not only retrieve Lehecka’s thunderbolt but send it down the line for the winner! Ahahahaha. He’s having such fun out there. He smiles. The whole of Arthur Ashe then smiles with him. 15-30 develops into 30-40. A point for a double break. But Alcaraz flings his forehand into the net. And Lehecka scrambles through to hold.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 1-3 Alcaraz
Lehecka says his outlook on tennis changed when he was out with a back injury last year and that he became more relaxed, realising the sport isn’t everything. I wonder what’s going through his mind as Alcaraz makes a fool of him for 40-15. Alcaraz errs for 40-30, but cracks an ace out wide to keep hold of the break.
Second set: Lehecka 4-6, 1-2 Alcaraz*
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. Lehecka’s first love hold of the match.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 0-2 Alcaraz
Some good hitting from Lehecka at 15-all but he still loses the point. And doesn’t win another. He’ll be hoping he doesn’t go the way that Alexander Bublik did yesterday against Jannik Sinner, but at least he’s already won more games than Bublik managed in the whole of the match. But this is too easy for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz breaks: Lehecka 4-6, 0-1 Alcaraz*
This is probably the most obvious thing I’ll type all match … but Lehecka really needs to start strongly in this set. Otherwise I fear this quarter-final could already be beyond him. He’s serving first, so if he can get a hold or two or three, at least he’ll be putting some scoreboard pressure on the 2022 champ. But Alcaraz does Alcaraz things at 15-all, showing his superb array of skills, rounding the point off at the net. 15-30. Alcaraz then somehow steadies himself to get back Lehecka’s smash … and Lehecka, not expecting the ball to come back at him, hits well so long the ball probably flew through Queens and into Manhattan. 15-40, two break points. And Alcaraz isn’t distracted by Lehecka’s shot clipping the net and trickling over … he’s still has the speed of foot and thought to retrieve the ball and claim the break.
Alcaraz wins the first set 6-4
A brilliant backhand winner down the line from Lehecka on the opening point gives Alcaraz something to think about. But Alcaraz is immoveable on the next. Well, actually, he’s moving all over the place as he chases down the drop shot and is then sent scampering to the other side of the court, but he refuses to relinquish the point and somehow finds a way to win it. 15-all, which turns into 30-15. And 40-15, two set points. Lehecka hits a viciously angled winner off Alcaraz’s drop on the first … and Alcaraz clunks a forehand into the net on the second! But soon there’s a third, and Alcaraz isn’t feeling so charitable this time.
First set: Lehecka 4-5 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0. And then 40-0, courtesy of perhaps Lehecka’s shot of the set, a winning cross-court forehand on the run. He’s trying to out-Alcaraz Alcaraz with that strike for the showreel. Talking of showreels, Alcaraz’s one from the fourth round is especially wizardly and wonderful, even by his standards, if you haven’t yet seen it. Anyway … Lehecka holds to 15 once more. So Alcaraz will serve for the set.
First set: Lehecka* 3-5 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
As if prove my words (thanks Jiri), Lehecka moves to 15-30 on Alcaraz’s serve. He then gets another chance at 30-all and on a second serve, but he snatches at a backhand. That was a missed opportunity. And Alcaraz makes him pay with a stinging serve that the Czech can’t get back into play.
First set: Lehecka 3-4 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Another hold to 15 for Lehecka; he looks far more settled and skips back to his chair. Despite Alcaraz leading their head-to-head, Lehecka has actually beaten the Spaniard before, in Doha this year, which was the only time they’ve faced each other on a hard court. Alcaraz said after that match he “honestly didn’t know” what he could have done better, such was Lehecka’s level. We haven’t seen that so far today … but there’s the sense now that Lehecka is getting closer to finding a level that can perhaps trouble Alcaraz.
Thanks Daniel. So Alcaraz, his pink-purple daytime number and his buzzcut – which now doesn’t look nearly so severe – step up to serve. There’s the feeling of a little more resistance from Lehecka now, but at 15-all, after a long rally, Alcaraz pulls off the one-two punch with breathtaking power and precision. He then thumps another winner for 40-15. And an unreturned serve for game. This is the first time in his career that he’s reached the quarter-finals of a slam without dropping a set, and you can see why; he’s oozing confidence out there.
*Lehecka 2-3 Alcaraz At change of ends, Laura Robson advised that in Alcaraz’s box, Juan Carlos Ferrero was giggling during that last game; his team seem to have such a good laugh. But this is better from Lehecka, who secures a hold to 15, and that’s it from me for today; here’s Katy Murrells to croon you through the rest of this latest exhibition of unique genius.
Lehecka 1-3 Alcaraz* It almost feels like Alcaraz is mucking about having decided he’s impregnable, prolonging a point with drops and volleys until Lehecka lobs long. And from there, he rushes through a love hold, sealing it with an ace down the T; he’ll have seen Sinner waste Bublik last evening, and so far, this is his interpretation of the same. Real talk: it feels like the pair of them are now too good for everyone but the other.
*Lehecka 1-2 Alcaraz Alcaraz makes 0-15, but Lehecka fights back well only to net a half-volley, caught coming in; Stefan Edberg, he is not. Gosh, and another double means a point for a double break, Alcaraz then flinging himself into a forehand; Leheka does well to send it back, a similar effort then sent wide for deuce. From there, the Czech closes out his hold, on the board at 1-2.
Lehecka 0-2 Alcaraz* A love consolidation for Alcaraz, the forehand that seals it lasered down the line when backpeddling out of court. Even the man himself is impressed with that one.
*Lehecka 0-1 Alcaraz At 15-0, a double, then a netted backhand and Lehacka is immediately under pressure. And though he makes 30-all, Alcaraz ups pace on the forehand with little warning, zetzing down the line before putting away a volley for break point. Lehecka, though, responds well, a big forehand to the corner making deuce … only for a second double to donate advantage. Alcaraz then hits the line with a return, lays a drop, and the riposte goes into the net. For those of us hoping to see a contest, that was not a good sign.
Alcaraz elected to receive, so Lehecka will get us going.
Whoops, I forgot to remember that Alcaraz also played Bellucci, but in this competition, gubbing him 1, 0 and 3. Lehecka has work to do.
