On Wednesday night at the US Open, 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who is seeded third in the tournament, hit an incredible shot that left viewers astonished and flabbergasted, using phrases like “INSANE,” and “One of the most unbelievable shots you’ll ever see in tennis.”
The tortuous five set match between Alcaraz and the 21-year-old Jannik Sinner didn’t end until almost 3 a.m., the second-longest match in the history of the tournament. In total, the men played for 5 hours and 15 minutes. Alcaraz’s incredible shot came in the second set, which he ultimately lost, although he had saved five set points. He won the match, though, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3.
Alcaraz was running from left to right in the second set when Sinner ripped a forehand behind him. Leaping in the air, Alcaraz whipped his racket around his back to hit a return over the net. Sinner, who had approached the net, tried a drop shot, but Alcaraz raced over and ripped a cross-court backhand winner.
INSANE
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) September 8, 2022
“I always say you have to believe in yourself all the time,” Alacarez said after the match. “The hope is that last thing that you lose. Just believe in myself, believe in my game.”
“Honestly, I still don’t know how I did it, the level that I played, the level of the match,” he continued. “Jannik Sinner is a great player, as everybody could see; his level is just amazing.”
“Thank you to all of you,” he told the crowd. “I will never be tired to say that all the wins that I have in this court is thanks to you, the support that I have received in the bad moment, in the whole match, it’s just unbelievable, the energy that I received. So thank you very much.”
The only longer match in the tournament’s history occurred in 1992, when Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang played for 5hours and 26 minutes, ESPN noted.
“Could have finished in three sets. Could have finished in four sets. Could have finished in five sets. We both wanted to win, for sure. We both tried our best,” said the eleventh seeded Sinner. “This one will hurt for quite a while. But tomorrow, I will wake up — or today, I will wake up — trying to somehow [take away] only the positives.”
After the exhausting match was over, the two men hugged at the net.
If Alcaraz wins the tournament, he will become the youngest player ever to be ranked number one in the world.
