‘My god’: Tennis freak Carlos Alcaraz makes history against Stefanos Tsitsipas

Remember the name Carlos Alcaraz: the 18-year-old wunderkind has launched his career with a stunning career first at the US Open.

Remember the name. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Spanish 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz has claimed the biggest scalp of his fledgling tennis career, downing World No. 3 in a stunning five-set thriller.

Seen as “the next Rafael Nadal”, Alcaraz lived up to the billing with the major scalp in a 6-3 4-6 7-6 0-6 7-6 victory over more than four hours.

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The teenager fell to the court after the win, like he’d won the championship following the tense win.

The world No. 55 was in disbelief as the crowd celebrated making the fourth round of the US Open.

Let’s see how much history the kid can make. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP

At 18, Alcaraz has become the youngest ever player to beat a top three player at the US Open since 1973, beating Pete Sampras who did it as a 19-year-old and Andre Agassi at 20, both at the 1990 tournament.

He is also the youngest player to reach the round of 16 since 1989.

John McEnroe said “My god, this guy” in commentary, which is similar to a lot of the reaction on social media.

Tsitsipas couldn’t break out of Alcatraz!!! Wow!!!!!!

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) September 3, 2021

So great to watch incredible tennis and to witness the arrival of the next generation of future champions.

Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest player into the #USOpen Round 4 since Michael Chang and Pete Sampras. https://t.co/iW4cqLWK3D

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 3, 2021

The beginning of some potentially very big things for Carlos Alcaraz. https://t.co/82e7JGRpeD

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) September 3, 2021

The crowd was right behind Alcaraz throughout the game, after Tsitsipas took another extended bathroom break after going down two sets to one at the end of the third set.

He was booed by the crowd but came back to take the fourth set 6-0 but the young Spaniard bounced back to seal the victory in a tie-break.

“Without this crowd I wouldn’t have the possibility to win the match,” Alcaraz said. “I was down at the beginning of the fourth set so thank you to the crowd for pushing me on in the fifth set. Incredible feeling for me.

“This victory means a lot for me. It’s the best match of my career, the best win. For me with Stefanos Tsitsipas, it’s a dream come true for me.”

Tsitsipas has never made it past the third round in New York.

Tsitispas playing the villain in New York. Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP

Chris McKendry said that he “lost the plot” in this tournament.

Tsitsipas caused the scandal of the tournament when he took extended breaks against Andy Murray and Adrian Mannarino.

Murray accused him of “cheating” as he exploited the rules.

He did it again against Alcaraz, but the Spaniard followed suit.

“When he lost the third set, he walked off the court and he got booed,” Rennae Stubbs said in ESPN commentary. “And then his opponent decided, I’m going to go off the court — his opponent got cheered. Cheered walking off the court. I mean c’mon, at some point you have to recognise as a player ‘I need the crowd’.

“To change that, you can’t take eight-minute breaks. We need to change the rule but I think you also need to sit back and go it would have been nice to have this crowd not all against me in the fifth set of the match. And the way to do that is to make them love you and don’t go off the court for eight minutes.”

Aussie Popyrin out after blowing two set lead

Popyrin couldn’t believe he let the game slip. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Dan Evans produced a stunning comeback tonight against Alexei Popyrin to reach the US Open last 16 for the first time.

The British No1, 31, looked down and out after a tricky start but pulled himself together and bagged a brilliant 4-6 3-6 6-3 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) win to set up a clash with world No2 Daniil Medvedev on Sunday.

Evans, 31, said: “I didn’t think I did a bad job in the first two sets. I think he dropped a little bit, I still had chances in the first two.

“In the fifth he started serving a lot better and then I played a good tie-break. Now I’m looking forward to relaxing!

“Coming back form Wimbledon – when I was poor – was difficult.

“My focus was on third round here, and once I got there to put in a good performance. I could have lost that match pretty easily.”

On facing Medvedev, he added: “He’s a great player. He’s done great here, he’s the second bet player in the world.

“I won’t think about that too much just yet. I’m just happy.

“If I play like I did in the tie-break for three hours it might get me close to a win. He’s a great competitor so competing hard will be the first thing.”

— The Sun