Alcaraz dismisses Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 to reach US Open semis

Carlos Alcaraz is having not only a moment but a season. The twenty-two-year-old leads the tour with six titles, including three at the Masters 1000 level and a grand slam at Roland Garros. The former world #1, currently #2, is edging closer to reclaiming the top spot from Jannik Sinner, the defending US Open champion.

His quarterfinal opponent, Jiri Lehecka, the 20th seed, posed a daunting challenge. The twenty-three-year-old from Czechia defeated Alcaraz in three sets earlier this season in Doha and lost in three sets in the championship match at the Queens Club.

In Arthur Ashe Stadium, Lehecka served first and with two double faults dumped serve while Alcaraz hit a stunning inside-in forehand to consolidate the break at love.

AP Photo/Heather Khalifa

Lehecka led 30-15 then faced a break point following his third double fault and then deuce before holding, while Alcaraz held at love for 3-1 with a 122mph ace up the tee. The 20th seed missed three consecutive first serves but with an ace up the tee and an unreturnable, held to 15 for 2-3.

The 2nd seed struck three consecutive winners, including an ace out wide on game point, to lead 4-2. Lehecka replied in kind, striking three winners, including a 119mph ace out wide, and held to 15 for 3-4.

Alcaraz, serving with new balls, opened with a double fault but with a colossal serve up the tee, held to 30 for 5-3 while Lehecka, serving to stay in the set, missed 4/5 first serves yet held to 15 for 4-5.
The 2022 US Open champion missed 4/8 first serves but secured the set 6-4 with a blistering backhand down the line pass and an unforced error from his opponent.

Lehecka served first in the second and, as the errors continued to mount, faced a double break point, and dropped serve while Alcaraz held easily to 15 to consolidate the break.

Lehecka opened the third with a fantastic backhand volley down the line and held to love to get on the board. The former world #1 hit a stunning forehand drop volley and his third ace on game point to lead 3-1. Lehecka faced a break point and deuce but held for 2-3 with a crisp crosscourt backhand volley and a mishit forehand from the Spaniard.

Alcaraz continued to pummel the ball off both 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, faced double break point, 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 in the third and though he gifted two consecutive unforced errors, held to 30 while the Spaniard opened with a double fault but held to 15 with three winners, including his fifth ace.
Lehecka continued to go toe to toe with the Spaniard and with three consecutive winners including a 128mph ace, held to 30 for 2-1 while Alcaraz held to 15 to level. Lehecka made 5/6 first serves and held to 30 while Alcaraz held to love with an incredible crosscourt forehand drop shot.

Lehecka opened the seventh with an extraordinary inside-in forehand winner and though he faced break point and deuce, held for 4-3 when Alcaraz whiffed a volley.

The 5-time grand slam champion opened with a remarkable inside-in forehand winner and held at love for parity. Lehecka made 4/6 first serves, but three consecutive errors cost him as he faced a break point and dumped serve.

Alcaraz served for the match and secured victory at love with three astonishing winners. He has reached the penultimate round at the season’s final slam for the third time in five years.
It was a confident and poised performance from the world #2. He finished with five aces, two double faults, and won 84% of first and a staggering 73% of second serve points. As a result, he did not face a break point and converted 4/9. He struck twenty-eight winners to seventeen unforced errors and won almost thirty more points than Lehecka.

His semifinal opponent has yet to be determined, but either way, it will present a formidable challenge. He will either battle last year’s finalist and world #4, Taylor Fritz or the 24-time grand slam champion, Novak Djokovic. Either way, it promises to be a Big Apple blockbuster!