Teen Alcaraz beats veteran Cilic in late-night thriller to set up clash with Sinner

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Teen Alcaraz beats veteran Cilic in late-night thriller to set up clash with Sinner
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Carlos Alcaraz will next face Jannik Sinner for a place in the semis
Carlos Alcaraz will next face Jannik Sinner for a place in the semisReuters
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (19) beat 2014 champion Marin Cilic (33) 6-4 3-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 at the US Open on Monday to set up a next-generational quarter-final clash against Jannik Sinner (21).

After battling for three hours and 53 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the roof was closed due to rain, Alcaraz dropped to his knees in jubilation after sealing the contest on his first match point when Cilic's return hit the net.

The sizeable crowd on the main showcourt gave the players a standing ovation with the clock striking 2.24 am, a couple of minutes short of the latest ever finish at the New York Grand Slam.

Cilic seemed to have wrested the momentum back when he broke Alcaraz's serve late in the fourth set to level the match at 2-2 and started the deciding stanza with another break in the opening game.

But Alcaraz, who thrilled the crowd with his athleticism during some breathtaking rallies, regained his composure to break Cilic in his next two service games and put himself on course for a third win this year against the Croat.

"Honestly, I have no idea," Alcaraz said on court when asked how he managed to clinch victory. "It was pretty, pretty tough at the beginning of the fifth set (being a) break down.

"Marin was playing unbelievable. But I believe in myself all the time. Of course, the support today in Arthur Ashe (Stadium) was crazy. Without you guys, it wouldn't be possible to win this match tonight, so thank you very much for the support.

"I would say 100% of the energy I put in the fifth set was thanks to you. It was unbelievable."

Alcaraz's victory over the 15th-seeded Cilic ensured there will be a new men's Grand Slam champion on Sunday and also kept the Spaniard in contention to become the youngest world number one when the ATP rankings are updated after the final.

The third seed will next meet Italian Sinner (21), seeded 11th, for a maiden Grand Slam semi-final spot.

Sinner also emerged victorious from a marathon contest against Ilya Ivashka (28), winning 6-1 5-7 6-2 4-6 6-3 after three hours and 47 minutes.

Sinner has defeated Alcaraz twice this year - in the fourth round at Wimbledon and in the final of the ATP 250 event in Umag.

"I played a couple of times against him. He's a great player, a really, really tough one," said Alcaraz. "I lost twice in the past two months, so I will have to be ready for this battle against Jannik."

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