Carlos Alcaraz reaches US Open quarterfinal with late-night win against Marin Cilic
As is so often the case, Saturday’s quarterfinals of the U.S. Open in Queens on the hard courts were very much in the tradition of a classic, and just as often in a completely new genre.
This U.S. Open saw men’s quarterfinals that were filled with top-level, often brilliant play by the top players in the world. One such player, who played in this tournament for the first time in his career, was the world No. 1 and No. 2 player Marin Cilic, who has played his way to his first U.S. Open title since 2013, in the quarterfinals.
Cilic reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at 33 years, seven months, and four days old, while his opponent in the quarterfinals, Carlos Alcaraz, won the U.S. Open on the main hard courts by beating Marin Cilic in the final 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2).
Marin Cilic had his game at his best on the clay during this tournament, having reached six of the eight quarterfinals, which is also a record for American men at the U.S. Open. This victory by an American in this tournament was also Cilic’s first since his first title, in 2014.
The U.S. Open in 2018 was the first time that Alcaraz became the first player from outside of South America to win the title. After playing only one round at the U.S. Open and losing in the first round, he beat No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, and then beat another No. 1, John Isner, in a tiebreak to win his first title.
The U.S. Open is the oldest grand slam tournament in the world, first played in 1916.
The U.S. Open is the oldest grand slam tournament in the world, first played in 1916. Alcaraz, who only won one title in his
