By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Photo credit: Jed Jacobsohn/ROLEZ
NEW YORK—Creativity comes to court when Carlos Alcaraz is in full flight on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Bending the ball into obscure areas of the court, Alcaraz painted Jiri Lehecka right out of the true blue hard court
Lighting up Ashe Stadium with imaginative shot-making, Alcaraz sustained his imposing Flushing Meadows run with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 triumph today.
It is Alcaraz’s 11th consecutive victory sending him into his eighth straight semifinal as he soars to within a win of a third consecutive Grand Slam final—and regaining the world No. 1 ranking from rival Jannik Sinner.
“It’s difficult not to think about it, but every time I step on court I’m trying not to think about it,” said Alcaraz after earning his 35th win in his last 36 matches. “If I think about No. 1 spot too much I’m gonna put too much pressure on myself.
“I just want to step on court, try to do my things, follow my goals in the match and try to enjoy my goals in the match. No. 1 is there but I am trying not to think too much about it.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard continues rising to rare air occupied by iconic champions. Alcaraz is the fifth man in Open Era history to reach nine Grand Slam semifinals before the age of 23, joining legends Boris Becker, Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander in achieving that awesome feat.
Alcaraz will carry an ATP-best 59-6 record into the semifinals where he will face either Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic, in a rematch of last year’s Olympic gold-medal match, or fourth-seeded American Taylor Fritz. It’s 15 sets up and 15 sets down for Alcaraz in New York, performing like a man on a mission.
Today’s opening quarterfinal was a rematch of the Queen’s Club final in June, which Alcaraz won 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.
Asserting his all-court acumen, Alcaraz never trailed today.
A series of rapid reflex volleys by Alcaraz elicited admiring gasps from the Arthur Ashe Stadium faithful. Then the Spaniard scalded the center stripe with an ace holding for 3-1.
Continuing a commanding serve start, Alcaraz zapped his second ace stretching his lead to 4-2.
On his third set point, Alcaraz closed out the opening set after 41 minutes. Alcaraz won 21 of 27 points played on his serve in the set and never trailed.
Grand Slam tennis is all about firsts. Win the first point, your chances greatly improve winning the game. Earn the first break and you’re more likely to win the set.
Alcaraz got off first for the second set in a row exploiting three unforced errors from Lehecka to earn the opening-game break. Alcaraz backed up the break for a 6-4, 2-0 lead after 50 minutes.
Tested at love-30 in the sixth game, Alcaraz pulled off the full Stefan Edberg-style stretch angled backhand volley winner inciting explosive roar from fans. That magical flick helped Alcaraz hold for 4-2.
Inciting fans and inspiring himself, Alcaraz rifled a forehand winner down the line for a 15-30 lead. When Lehecka committed his fourth double fault, Alcaraz seized the double break for 5-2.
Suffocating the Czech’s serve throughout the third set, Alcaraz jerked Lehecka side-to-side eventually drawing a wild forehand long to break for 5-4 with a shout.
The man in the pink sleeveless shirt, conjured colorful magic with a sliding, sharp-angled backhand drop volley that helped him earn triple match point.
Blowing on his hand before serving, Alcaraz flashed one final diagonal forehand firing through a one hour, 55-minute triumph—and moving to within one win of a third straight Grand Slam final.
