Alcaraz battles past Cilic to keep world No 1 hopes alive; Sinner next

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, the No 3 seed, defeated Croat Marin Cilic, the No 15 seed, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to move into the quarter-finals of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on Monday night.

Alcaraz, ranked No 4, will play Italian Jannik Sinner, the No 11 seed, for a place in the semi-finals.

This was the first time that Alcaraz dropped a set in this event, having beaten Argentinian Sebastian Baez (7-5, 7-5, 2-0 ret.), Argentinian Federico Coria (6-2, 6-1, 7-5) and American Jenson Brooksby (6-3, 6-3, 6-3) all in straight sets.

Cilic’s loss means that no Grand Slam winners are remaining in the men’s singles draw and there will be a new Grand Slam champion in men’s tennis on Sunday.

Alcaraz’s win also keeps hos hopes of becoming world No 1 after the US Open alive. With Rafael Nadal out of the event, two players – Alcaraz and Casper Ruud – have a chance to become world No 1 but need to reach the US Open final.

If both players fall before the semi-finals, Rafael Nadal, who lost on Monday to American Frances Tiafoe in another fourth round clash, will replace Daniil Medvedev as the world No 1.

US Open, New York City (Grand Slam), other fourth round results

• Jannik Sinner beat Ilya Ivashka: 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
• Frances Tiafoe (22) beat Rafael Nadal (2): 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
• Andrey Rublev (9) beat Cameron Norrie (7): 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
• Nick Kyrgios (23) beat Daniil Medvedev (1): 7-6 (11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
• Karen Khachanov (27) beat Pablo Carreno Busta (12): 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
• Casper Ruud (5) beat Corentin Moutet (LL): 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-2
• Matteo Berrettini (13) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

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