Carlos Alcaraz is into yet another US Open semi-final, having maintained his perfect run by beating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
The 22-year-old continues to stun every time he takes to the court, and today was no different.
He dominated his Czech opponent, who actually played well enough. He just couldn’t even get close to the supreme shot-making and serving of the five-time Grand Slam champion.
Carlos Alcaraz was unsurprisingly glowing in the immediate aftermath, and joined Sky Sports’ coverage to break down his emphatic win.
Carlos Alcaraz admits he’s been working hard on his serve
Having conducted his on-court interview, Laura Robson managed to catch the victor just minutes later to enjoy a more personalised chat with him courtside.
She began by praising his serve, to which Alcaraz replied: “Well, I think the serve is a really important weapon nowadays, so I had to work on it just to be perfect, to be as good as I can, because it gives you a lot of confidence. When you play in the return games, it gives you, like, you can play aggressively on the return. Pushing him to the limit and put pressure on his game.
“So I’m just really, really happy the way that I’m serving right now, and I think it’s why I’m just playing with such a joy and like, no pressure at all.”
Then asked to expand upon his joyful mindset, he continued: “Well, sometimes it’s just, I think I just hit some shots that I might not play in that moment, but you know, it’s the way that I love playing tennis.
“I’m trying to follow as much as I can just to have a mix from both, playing solid, playing well, playing smart, but at the same time, when I have the opportunity to bring a really great shot, let’s say, a hot dog, let’s say. I’m thinking, like, why not?
“I’m here to entertain the people as well, to entertain myself, my team. So I think those shots are sometimes really great for me.”
Despite interviewing him, Laura Robson claimed she was not changing her pick to win the US Open title.
Martina Navratilova absolutely loves Carlos Alcaraz’s attitude
Speaking live on Sky Sports before Alcaraz’s second interview, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman were both on hand to wax lyrical about the superb Spaniard.
After all, it was a mouth-watering display, as he comprehensively dismantled Lehecka, who didn’t even play poorly.
He just came up against an opponent who was far too good on the day.
Henman began by lauding Alcaraz’s attitude: “I mean, that was just an absolute pleasure to watch, and at times, it just feels like it’s an exhibition out there because he’s playing with such freedom, such enjoyment.
“And when he’s in that frame of mind, it’s almost like he’s challenging himself to come up with better and better shots just to try and impress himself, impress his team and entertain the crowd. So just a magical performance.”
Navratilova then added: I feel like he’s enjoying every aspect of being on the court. He likes it when it is a tough point, when he has to come up with some big shots or a volley, come up with great defence, he appreciates himself, but he also appreciates his opponent.
“I feel like he’s got pleasure out of it even when he loses the point, and that’s fantastic, great attitude to have.”
Henman would then conclude by outlining how this positive, joyful attitude is actually helping him become an even more ruthless winner at the US Open: “And when he’s having this much fun, I don’t think he’s thinking about trying to win the match. He’s just in that moment playing the point, trying to execute the best shots possible.
“And obviously, when you add up all those points at the end, you get in the games, you get the set, and you do get the match, but that is being consumed by the process.”
