Carlos Alcaraz reaches his first Grand Slam final after defeating Frances Tiafoe (6/7 6/3 6/1 6/7 6/3) in the US Open semi-finals on Friday, the 9th of September.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium spectators couldn’t have dreamt of a better match. During each set, the two players played unbelievable rallies. The fired-up fans watched 4h16 of pure suspense.
The beginning of the match set the tone for the fierce battle to come. None of the players granted a single break point to his opponent. Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe gave everything they had on each point, determined to give nothing away. Without surprise, this first set ended up in a tie break. Both players showed an incredible level of tennis. However, the American, who didn’t lose a single tie break during the tournament, handled his nerves better. Alcaraz offered the set on a silver platter: 2 double faults. This first set revealed the opposite intentions of the two opponents: Alcaraz came to the net each time he could while Tiafoe seemed more at ease during powerful rallies from the back of the court.
The second set was different from the first one. While no break point had been granted during the first hour of the match, games of serve were much more tied in the second set. The two players, forced to level up their level to defend their serve, played a fantastic tennis: tweeners, drop shots, serve-and-volley, passing shots… However, Alcaraz managed to take the advantage by breaking in the sixth game: 4/2, serve to follow. The Spanish kept his lead by showing great consistency. Tiafoe, on the other hand, made more unforced errors. Alcaraz picked up the score : 6/3.
A bit down after loosing the second set, Frances Tiafoe seemed off the court during the third set: passiveness, no first serve, a pile of unforced errors and a loser body language. Carlos Alcaraz took advantage of his opponent’s weaknesses to show the extent of his talent. He forced an infernal rhythm on the American who choked: a high percentage of first serve, incessant rises to the net, a fierce defense and only two unforced errors. The balance sheet was final: 6/1.
Alcaraz kept on his momentum. He began the fourth set with a love game and an early break: 2/0. While the outcome of the game seemed to be all set, Tiafoe, encouraged by the American fans, found his tennis back. A duel, as the one in the second set, took place. The two players were under pressure on each of their service game. After a sequence of four breaks which led to 3/3, ‘Charlie’ and ‘The Big Foe’ fell back into more classic patterns. Each one won their serves: 6/6 – even if a match point was saved by Tiafoe thanks to an amazing counter dropshot. Then, a tiebreak of all dangers for Alcaraz began. He made a few unusual errors while the 26th player of the world played his best tennis. As the last seven tiebreaks of this year’s US Open, this one was won by Tiafoe (7-5). Two sets all.
Alcaraz didn’t show an ounce of concern after the loss of the fourth set. As calm as he could be, he made and early break: 2/0. Tiafoe, far from giving up, picked up the score after a love game followed by an unbelievable return down the line: 2/2. The next game was a point of no return: Tiafoe, feverish, gave the break to Alcaraz after a double fault: 3/2, serve to follow. Despite Tiafoe struggling, the two next games were won by the servers: 5/3. The American had to serve to stay in the match. Alcaraz got three match points thanks to a lob which landed on the baseline. He managed to win the last one: 6/3.
The last night session of the 2022 US Open lacked nothing. Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe were up to the challenge for their first Grand Slam semi-finals. Juan Carlos Ferrero’s student won this encounter thanks to his phenomenal mental strength. While Frances Tiafoe had some down periods, the young Spanish mastered his emotions in the big moments. By sticking to his game plan, he managed to do what he does best: kick serves, rises to the net, cross-court forehand winners.
‘Carlitos’ will face Casper Ruud in the final. Besides a first Grand Slam title, the winner will become world number one as of Monday, the 12th of September. Who will reign over world tennis at the end of this high-stakes match? Answer on Sunday.
Marnie Abbou
