Carlos Alcaraz Rolls Into US Open Semifinals Without Breaking a Sweat
Look, tennis fans have seen some dominant runs before, but what Carlos Alcaraz is doing at the 2025 US Open feels different. The 22-year-old Spaniard just dismantled Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday, and honestly? It looked easier than assembling IKEA furniture with the instructions actually included. Can he keep playing at such a high level?
Alcaraz’s Flawless Form Has Fans Buzzing
Five matches into this tournament, and Alcaraz hasn’t dropped a single set. Not one. That is the kind of stat that makes you do a double-take and wonder if you’re watching the same sport where guys usually grunt their way through five-hour marathons.
The most telling number? He’s won 68 out of 69 service games. That lone break he surrendered probably bothers him more than it should, which tells you everything about his current mindset. This isn’t just confidence—it’s that rare zone where muscle memory and mental clarity create something magical.
Against Lehecka, who had actually beaten Alcaraz earlier this year in Doha, the match never felt in doubt. The Czech player came ready to fight, pushing Carlos in some genuinely entertaining rallies. But here’s the thing about elite athletes hitting their peak: they make the extraordinary look routine.
The Semifinal Setup Gets Spicy
Now comes the fun part. Alcaraz awaits either Taylor Fritz or Novak Djokovic in Friday’s semifinal, and both matchups have serious storylines brewing. If it’s Djokovic, we’re talking about a rivalry that’s already produced fireworks. The 24-time Grand Slam champion leads their head-to-head 5-3, including that gut-wrenching Olympic final defeat for Alcaraz last year. Djokovic knows how to get under Alcaraz’s skin, and at 37, he is still playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.
But Fritz? That is a different kind of pressure cooker. The American is riding high after last year’s US Open final run, and with Andy Roddick’s 2003 triumph still the last men’s Grand Slam for the USA, the crowd would be absolutely electric. Alcaraz has handled Fritz comfortably in their three previous meetings, but home crowd energy in New York hits different.
What Makes This Run Special
What is fascinating about Alcaraz’s current form isn’t just the wins—it is how he’s winning them. That drop shot against Lehecka in the second set, scrambling back to somehow reach a ball that looked impossible, then casually flicking it over the net? That is the kind of shot that makes highlight reels and breaks opponents’ spirits simultaneously.
The kid is playing with the kind of freedom that comes from knowing you’re exactly where you belong. Six Grand Slams at 22 years old isn’t just impressive—it’s historically significant territory. For context, that puts him ahead of where legends like Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander were at the same age.
The Path To Tennis Immortality
Here’s what makes this US Open run so compelling: Alcaraz is chasing his second title in New York, but more importantly, he is showing the tennis world that his 2022 breakthrough wasn’t a fluke. Hard court majors have always been his biggest question mark, with Wimbledon grass and French Open clay playing more naturally to his all-court style.
But watching him dismantle quality opponents on these courts with surgical precision suggests he has evolved. The serve is more consistent, the mental game sharper, and that trademark shot-making ability somehow even more ridiculous than before.
The numbers don’t lie: 59 wins and six titles in 2025 already, leading the tour in both categories. He’s not just playing great tennis—he’s redefining what great tennis looks like for his generation. Friday’s semifinal, regardless of opponent, feels like one of those moments where careers pivot. Win it, and Alcaraz cements himself as the present and future of men’s tennis. Lose it, and he’ll still be fine—but that hunger for hard court validation will gnaw at him until the next opportunity.
