Carlos Alcaraz tweaks tactics, downs Arthur Rinderknech to continue spotless US Open run

ATP Tour

Alcaraz tweaks tactics, downs Rinderknech to continue spotless US Open run

World No. 2 sets quarter-final meeting with Lehecka in New York

Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour Carlos Alcaraz is chasing his sixth major trophy. By Jerome Coombe

Carlos Alcaraz kept his spotless US Open campaign alive on Sunday by dampening the threat of big-serving Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech to reach the quarter-finals.

A subtle adjustment to his return position in the second set, coupled with his typically bruising ball striking throughout, proved decisive for Alcaraz in his 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 triumph. After an evenly contested opener, the 22-year-old Spaniard dropped deeper to tackle Rinderknech’s serve and ultimately sailed through to the last eight at a major tournament without dropping a set for the first time in his career.

“At the beginning of the first set, we were tight. We didn’t have break points in the first set, but it didn’t mean we were serving good, because the percentage was really bad from both,” said Alcaraz. “I just [found] a good rhythm, a good position for the returns... I tried to make the most of the opportunities that he gave me, but there weren’t too many.”

With his two-hour, 12-minute victory, Alcaraz became the youngest man in the Open Era to reach 13 major quarter-finals. Into his fourth US Open quarter-final in his five appearances at the event, the 2022 champion will next face 20th seed Jiri Lehecka.

Youngest Men to Reach 13 Grand Slam QFs (Open Era)

Player Age Event 1) C. Alcaraz 22Y 3M 2025 US Open 2) B. Becker 22Y 9M 1990 US Open 3) B. Borg 22Y 11M 1979 Roland Garros 4) M. Wilander 23Y 9D 1987 US Open 5) N. Djokovic 23Y 30D 2010 Wimbledon 6) R. Nadal 23Y 2M 2009 US Open

*age at start of tournament

It didn’t take long for Alcaraz to send fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium into a frenzy with a moment of audacious brilliance in the fourth game. After a tame drop shot, Rinderknech charged forward and drilled a forehand at Alcaraz’s feet, but the Spaniard responded with a dazzling behind-the-back flick that left his opponent stunned and the crowd on its feet.

“Sometimes I practise it, I’m not gonna lie,” Alcaraz said when asked of the shot. “I don’t practise it too many times, it’s just if the opportunity is there, I will try. Then in the match, it’s the same. If I have the opportunity, why not? I think the people like it… I like playing tennis like this, so it just came naturally.”

Competing in the fourth round at a major for the first time, Rinderknech struck with conviction throughout a tight first set, but he undid his hard work with an untimely double fault in the tie-break when serving at 2/1. Alcaraz was forced to save two break points late in the third set, but remained untouchable on serve.

With a Tour-leading 58 wins and six titles in 2025 according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Alcaraz remains on track to eclipse his career-best tally of 65 tour-level wins and six trophies from 2023.

Alcaraz could also return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since September of that year if he matches or exceeds defending champion Jannik Sinner’s result in New York. Fierce rivals Alcaraz and Sinner are seeded to meet in the championship match for the fifth consecutive tournament that they have both featured in.

With his win, Alcaraz booked his spot in the quarter-finals of all four major tournaments in the same season for the first time in his career, highlighting the consistency that he has brought at the top in 2025. He is first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and in good shape to reclaim ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours for the first time since his breakthrough in 2022.

Although Alcaraz will take a 2-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head lead into his quarter-final meeting with Lehecka, it was the Czech star who emerged victorious in their only prior clash on hard courts in Doha in February.

Earlier on Sunday lunchtime in New York, Lehecka held firm for a 7-6(4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over Adrian Mannarino to reach the quarter-finals at a major tournament for the second time in his career. The 23-year-old is up to No. 15 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and has ensured his Top-20 debut following the tournament.

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