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Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Frances Tiafoe in a gladiatorial US Open semi-final on Friday night, setting up a showdown for the title and world No 1 ranking against Casper Ruud.
The 19-year-old Spaniard triumphed 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 to become the youngest men’s grand slam finalist since compatriot Rafael Nadal captured the first of his 22 majors at the 2005 French Open.
Norway’s seventh-ranked Ruud earlier defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to also reach his first grand slam final.
Tiafoe went down fighting, however, saving three match points and retrieving breaks in both of the last two sets.

“We are in the semi-final of a grand slam, we have to give everything we have inside, we have to fight until the last ball,” said Alcaraz, the youngest US Open finalist since Pete Sampras in 1990.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re fighting for five hours or six hours. It doesn’t matter, you have to give everything on court.”
YouTuber JiDion kicked out of US Open after haircut prank
For Alcaraz, who unleashed 59 winners, it was his third successive five-setter as he closes in on a maiden major and becoming the youngest ever world No 1.
“It’s my first time in a final of a grand slam. I can see the No 1 in the world, but at the same time it’s so far away,” he added.
“I’m going to give everything that I have. I will have to handle the nerves of being in the final of a grand slam but obviously I’m really happy.”

Tiafoe hailed his conqueror.
“I gave everything I had, too good from Carlos tonight,” said Tiafoe.
“Honestly I came here wanting to win the US Open, I feel like I let you guys down. This one really hurts.”

Alcaraz saw two break points come and go in the seventh game of the opener before needing to save a set point in the 12th which featured a breathtaking rally that the Spaniard claimed from two seemingly losing positions.
The teenager saved three more set points in the tiebreak but Tiafoe converted his fifth when Alcaraz served up his third double fault of the 64-minute opener.
Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game of the second set, at one stage stretching for a winning point with his back facing Tiafoe to win another memorable rally.
His flamboyance was rewarded when he broke for 4-2 on his way to levelling the semi-final thanks to Tiafoe burying a return in the net.
Alcaraz had needed nine hours and 10 sets in his last two rounds, including a quarter-final which finished at 2.50am on Thursday, to reach the semi-final.

However, he looked the fresher of the two men when he raced to a double break, 4-0 lead in the third set, allowing Tiafoe just three points.
For good measure, Alcaraz broke the American a third time in the seventh game.
World No 26 Tiafoe, who knocked Nadal out of the tournament in the last 16, was hoping to become the first American man in a major final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
He gamely retrieved two breaks in the fourth set, saved a match point in the 10th game with a nerveless drop shot before claiming the tiebreak to send the clash into a decider.
It was an eighth successful tiebreak out of eight for the American.

Alcaraz broke for 2-0 in the fifth set only for Tiafoe to again claw his way back to 2-2.
The American, however, double-faulted to hand the advantage back in the fifth game.
Tiafoe saved two more match points in the ninth game before Alcaraz went on to seal victory in four hours and 19 minutes when his opponent netted a weary backhand.
Ruud will be appearing in his second grand slam final of the season after finishing runner-up to Nadal at the French Open in June.

“After Roland Garros, I was extremely happy but at the same time humble enough to think that could be my only final in a grand slam in my career,” said Ruud.
“They don’t come easy. So here I am a couple of months later – it feels beyond words to describe.”
The 23-year-old Norwegian set the tone for his dominance early in the semi-final when he came out on top in a 55-shot rally to convert a third set point in the opening tiebreak which his Russian rival described as “crazy”.


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US Open (tennis)

US Open: Carlos Alcaraz to face Casper Ruud for men’s title after epic semi-final triumph

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning against Frances Tiafoe in their US Open semi-final. Photo: AFP

Carlos Alcaraz hugs Frances Tiafoe after his win. Photo: AFP

Carlos Alcaraz urges the crowd to give it up for Frances Tiafoe after their epic match. Photo: Reuters

Frances Tiafoe is consoled by US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster. Photo: Reuters

Carlos Alcaraz collapses on the court after defeating Frances Tiafoe. Photo: AP

Carlos Alcaraz returns a shot to Frances Tiafoe. Photo: AP

Casper Ruud of Norway reacts after defeating Karen Khachanov at the US Open. Photo: AP

US Open: Coleman Wong to face No 3 seed Kilian Feldbausch in historic quarter-final showdown

Coleman Wong has secured his place in the quarter-finals of the US Open junior singles. Photo: ArcK Images

A frustrated Nick Kyrgios smashes his racket after being defeated by Karen Khachanov. Photo: AFP

US Open: YouTuber JiDion removed from Kyrgios quarter-final after haircut prank

YouTuber JiDion gets trim while Nick Kyrgios plays Karen Khachanov at the US Open. Photo: AP

Sport

Tennis


Spaniard, 19, triumphs against Frances Tiafoe in five sets to become youngest men’s grand slam finalist since Rafael Nadal in 2005
Victory sets up showdown for world No 1 ranking with Norwegian Ruud – ‘I’m going to give everything that I have,’ Alcaraz says



Spaniard, 19, triumphs over Frances Tiafoe in five sets to become youngest men’s grand slam finalist since compatriot Rafael Nadal captured first of his 22 majors in 2005.
