Carlos Alcaraz is nearly unbeatable at any point, but especially if he wins the first two sets of a Grand Slam match. Winning three straight sets in a match against the Spaniard has proven to be impossible. But at the 2025 US Open, Alcaraz is playing for even more.
Some of the blame can go toward Jannik Sinner for being so good in the second half of 2024. Because the Italian was sweeping through his competition, he had a lot of points to defend this year. This was compounded by Sinner missing three months earlier this year with a suspension.
In the live ATP rankings, Alcaraz has already overtaken Sinner. This was because the Italian won the US Open in 2024, and should he do so again, he will hold on to No. 1. But the way Alcaraz is playing, that might be difficult to do.
Carlos Alcaraz gets past Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals of the 2025 US Open
Jiri Lehecka learned this in the quarterfinals. The rivalry between the Czech and the Spaniard is a good one. They have played three times, and Alcaraz has won twice. The matches have been tight, however.
Not so much on Tuesday in New York. The Spaniard got a break in the first set, and wasn't touched on his serve, and took the set 6-4. The second set was even worse as the Spaniard got two breaks, had only five double faults, and lost only six points on his serve. He won the second set 6-2.
Was Jiri Lehecka going to pull off the miracle that no one else ever had? He was able to hold after getting love-30 down with the third set tied at 1-all. Perhaps, there was a real chance.
There wasn't. Though Lehecka played even through most of the third set, he was broken at 4-all, and Alcaraz, who hadn't been challenged on his serve the entire match, simply needed to hold. He did so to take set three 6-4.
Carlos Alcaraz will next face the winner of the Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz match. Fritz reached the final of the US Open in 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner. Novak Djokovic has won the New York major four times.