Carlos Alcaraz Makes Grand Slam History, Reaches US Open Quarterfinals

The 22-year-old Spaniard defeated Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets to become the youngest man in the Open era to reach 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals and the first to reach the quarterfinals at all four majors in the same season.

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday, beating France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium to clinch a landmark milestone in his young career. The 22-year-old Spaniard became the youngest man in the Open era to reach 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals and, for the first time in his career, has reached the quarterfinal stage at all four majors in a single season.

Alcaraz closed out the match in two hours and 12 minutes, mixing high-octane baseline power with moments of flair — including a behind-the-back point-winner in the opening set — to fend off a persistent challenge from Rinderknech. He will face Czech teenager Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

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Match details and reaction

Alcaraz broke early momentum with a tight first set that was decided in a tiebreak, which he won 7-3. He then raised his intensity, taking the second set 6-3 and closing the match 6-4 in the third, converting a crucial break late in the set to avoid an extended decider. The Spaniard’s mix of penetrating forehands, angled backhands and aggressive serving kept Rinderknech off balance for long stretches, while his defensive retrievals turned several extended rallies in his favor.

Rinderknech, who pushed Alcaraz hard on serve and produced a number of big baseline winners, was unable to convert break chances at key moments. The Frenchman fought through unforced errors and Alcaraz’s occasional bursts of creativity, but ultimately could not match the Spaniard’s consistency in the closing games.

After the match Alcaraz addressed questions about consistency that have followed him in recent seasons. “Probably a lot of people have [talked] about [how] I am not as [consistent] as I should be,” he said. He added that while he can be hard on himself, the statistics and results at the biggest tournaments show progress: “Those stats are really great to know for me, just to see that, you know, I’m making really good results in the really good tournaments.” He acknowledged his own internal standards, noting that sometimes quarterfinals or semifinals “is not enough.”

Alcaraz’s performance included both tactical discipline and moments of improvisation, a combination that has defined his rise. The behind-the-back point in the first set drew visible reaction from the Arthur Ashe crowd and underscored Alcaraz’s ability to execute high-difficulty shots under pressure.

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Season milestones and wider context

Sunday’s victory capped a sequence of deep runs by Alcaraz across the calendar Grand Slams this year. By reaching the US Open quarterfinals, he joined a short list of players who have advanced to the last eight at all four majors in a single season, while simultaneously extending his own Grand Slam quarterfinal tally to 13 at an age younger than any man in the Open era to reach that mark.

Alcaraz’s year-long run of quarterfinal appearances reflects a string of high-level performances at the sport’s biggest events. Those results have intensified scrutiny over his consistency between tournaments and on different surfaces, a narrative Alcaraz acknowledged but tempered with the view that producing strong showings at Grand Slams is a key measure of progress.

The Spaniard’s next opponent, Jiri Lehecka, is a rising Czech player who has upset higher-seeded opponents during the tournament. Their quarterfinal meeting on Tuesday pits two players who have used momentum at the US Open to add to breakthrough seasons. Lehecka’s path to the last eight has included a mix of aggressive baseline play and steady serving; analysts expect a tactical contest in which Alcaraz’s ability to defend and to shift gears on offense will be decisive.

For Rinderknech, the match represented another high-level showing on the biggest stage. The 28-year-old Frenchman has occasionally produced deep runs at major tournaments and can take positives from forcing a top-tier opponent into prolonged rallies and tiebreaks. He will exit the tournament with additional match experience on a grand stage and match-level data that could inform his preparation ahead.

Alcaraz’s broader career arc has been defined by rapid ascension and headline-making moments since he first emerged as a teenage prospect. While questions about consistency have accompanied his development, his capacity to deliver in Grand Slams — the sport’s most consequential events — adds weight to his standing among the game’s elite. Reaching his 13th Grand Slam quarterfinal at 22 cements a pace of achievement that places him among a select group of young players with durable major-level results.

The US Open, staged on hard courts in New York, is the last Grand Slam of the season and often serves as a barometer for players’ form heading into the indoor swing and year-end tournaments. Alcaraz’s continued presence in the second week of the event will keep him in the international spotlight and extend a run of matches that could influence seeding, confidence and preparations for the remainder of the season.

Tuesday’s quarterfinal will be closely watched by fans and commentators assessing whether Alcaraz can convert his series of quarterfinal runs this season into deeper showings and, eventually, another Grand Slam title. The match-up with Lehecka presents an immediate test of Alcaraz’s stamina and tactical adaptability after a demanding three-set win over Rinderknech.

As the tournament progresses, Alcaraz’s blend of power, movement and shot-making creativity will be tested by opponents who have had time to study his patterns and exploit opportunities. For now, the Spaniard’s achievement on Sunday stands as a clear milestone: at 22, he has set a statistical benchmark in Grand Slam quarterfinal appearances while joining a short list of players to post quarterfinal results at all four majors in a single campaign.