By Randy Walker
@TennisPublisher
He’s only 19 years old, but Carlos Alcaraz is already re-writing the tennis record books.
Early Thursday morning, Alcaraz closed out a 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 win over Jannik Sinner in the second-longest and latest finishing match in U.S. Open history, concluding at 2:50 am.
The five hour and 15 minute quarterfinal marathon was 11 minutes shorter than the longest-ever U.S. Open match, Stefan Edberg beating Michael Chang in 5:26 in the U.S. Open semifinals in 1992. The second-longest listed match in the U.S. Open’s record book is when Sargis Sargsian defeated Nicolas Massu in the 2004 second round in 5:09 by a 6-7, 6-4,3-6, 7-6, 6-4 scoreline. However, a Google search revealed that a 1993 third round match between Richard Krajicek and Todd Martin actually lasted one minute longer, Krajicek winning 6–7, 4–6, 7–6, 6–4, 6–4 in five hours, ten minutes.
Alcaraz is on the cusp of more history as he could become the youngest world No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings at the end of the tournament and, with a title on Sunday, would become the second youngest U.S. Open men’s singles champion, behind Pete Sampras, who won the 1990 U.S. Open less than a month after turning 19.
The 2:50 am finishing time between Alcaraz and Sinner knocks three matches out of U.S. Open record book as latest finishing matches ever in New York, as detailed below.
Sept. 2, 2014 – Kei Nishikori defeats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 in four hours, 19 minutes in a fourth-round match at the U.S. Open that ends at 2:26 am, tying the tournament’s record for the latest finish. Nishikori and Raonic’s finish at the exact time as the 2012 match when Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated John Isner and the 1993 match when Mats Wilander defeated Mikael Pernfors. When asked by reporters if he was impressed by the late finish record, Raonic responds, “Not in the slightest bit.”
Sept. 3, 2012 – Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany registers a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over John Isner in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, concluding at 2:26 am on Labor Day morning. The match is the second of three U.S. Open matches to conclude at this exact time, the latest ever finish in U.S. Open history. In 1993, Mats Wilander defeats Mikael Pernfors in five sets in the first U.S. Open match to finish at 2:26 and two years later, Kei Nishikori outlasts Milos Raonic also in five sets, concluding at 2:26.
Sept. 4, 1993 – Mats Wilander finally defeats Mikael Pernfors 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 in a 4 hour, 1 minute match that concludes at 2:26 am – the latest ever conclusion of a U.S. Open match. In the post-match press conference, when asked if he had ever played this late in the evening, Wilander dead-pans, “Played what?” In amazing coincidences, the 2:26 am latest finish time is tied, exactly to the minute, two times in later years, in 2012 when Philipp Kohlschreiber beats John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 4-6,6-3, 6-4 and 2014 when Kei Nishikori beats Milos Raonic 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4.
Alcaraz beat Marin Cilic in five sets in the fourth round earlier this week in another late-night marathon that ended at 2:23 am.
Against Sinner, Alcaraz saved a match point with Sinner serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set. However, he missed an easy, open-court forehand on a set point in the second set that would have given him a two-sets-to-love lead.
