KEY POINTS

  • Carlos Alcaraz has qualified for the US Open semi-final
  • He became the youngest US Open semi-finalist since Sampras in 1990
  • Alcaraz is set to face off against Frances Tiafoe on Friday

Carlos Alcaraz has emulated Rafael Nadal to become the first teenager to reach the men's singles Grand Slam semi-final since his idol.

In a thrilling encounter that went on to be the second-longest match in US Open history, Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-7(0), 7-5, 6-3 Thursday morning. The young Spanish star saved one match point in the fourth set to seal the game that lasted for five hours and 15 minutes, according to ESPN.

At 19 years old, Alcaraz is the first teenager to reach a men's major semi-final since Nadal won the 2005 French Open. The teenage Spanish player also became the youngest semi-finalist at the US Open since Pete Sampras won it at 19 in 1990.

"Honestly, I still don't know how I did it. You have to believe in yourself. I believed in my game. It was really difficult to close out the match. I tried to stay calm, but it is difficult at the moment," Alcaraz said in his on-court interview after his classic triumph in front of the passionate Arthur Ashe Arena crowd.

With the victory over Sinner, Alcaraz also qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. Alcaraz is now set to take on local player Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final Friday. The upcoming game is the first Grand Slam semi-final appearance for both players.

"I am going to enjoy [achieving] my first semi-final of a Grand Slam and tomorrow will be the time to think about the match [with Tiafoe]," Alcaraz added in the same interview.

Carlos Alcaraz collapses to the court in delight after his record-breaking quarter-final victory over Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz is set to play his career's first Grand Slam semi-final

Tiafoe, who defeated four-time champion Nadal in the Round of 16, reached the semi-final by beating 9th seeded Andrey Rublev in straight sets. By doing so, Tiafoe became the first American man to qualify for the US Open semis in 16 long years.

Meanwhile, a first-time champion at the US Open is already guaranteed in the men's singles at New York's Flushing Meadows, with Norway's Casper Ruud and Russia's Karen Khachanov competing in the other semi-final.

Along with Nadal, Alcaraz and 23-year-old Ruud are also in the race to claim the top ATP rank as the US Open is nearing the end. As per the latest ATP Live Rankings, Nadal is at World No. 1 ahead of his compatriot Alcaraz and Norwegian Ruud.