Teenagers impress in reaching US Open quarterfinals
NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest player in the Open era to reach the quarterfinals of the men’s tournament at Flushing Meadows yesterday after the 18yearold Spaniard beat Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk 57, 61, 57, 62, 60.
Alcaraz, aged 18 years and four months, is eight days younger than Andre Agassi when the American reached the 1988 US Open quarterfinals and semifinals.
The Spaniard is also the youngest to reach this stage in New
York since Brazilian Thomaz Koch in 1963, five years before the sport turned professional, when the tournament was known as the US Championships.
‘‘It’s really tough to play these kind of matches, to play fifth sets,’’ Alcaraz told reporters.
‘‘I hope to play more second weeks, to play more quarterfinals of grand slams. I didn’t expect to play [in the] quarterfinals here.’’
Gojowczyk, 14 years older than Alcaraz and playing in the fourth round of a major for the first time, made a bright start but was hampered by an injury to his thigh and took a medical timeout midway through the fourth.
The German fought hard but faded badly as the match wore on.
Next up for the Spaniard is 12thseeded Canadian Felix AugerAliassime, who dispatched American Frances Tiafoe 46, 62, 76(6), 64.
Leylah Fernandez has had a great start to her career and the teenager has a big future ahead of her, former champion Angelique Kerber said yesterday after losing 46, 76(5), 62 to the Canadian.
Fernandez, who turned 19 yesterday, knocked out defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round and then reached a grand slam quarterfinal for the first time with her win over the German.
‘‘If she plays like this, consistently plays the whole year, the next tournaments like this, the next rounds, I think she has a great future,’’ Kerber said.
‘‘She has a lot of power in her forehand and she’s going for her winners . . .
‘‘I think she’s always also enjoying her tennis out there.
‘‘I think she can go really far in the next few years.’’
Fernandez faces fifth seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. — Reuters