Carlos Alcaraz was all smiles after a commanding straight-sets victory over Jiri Lehecka, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, booking his place in the US Open semi-finals. The Spaniard, still only 21, looked every bit like the reigning champion, dismissing his Czech rival with power, finesse, and the kind of swagger that has come to define him on the biggest stages.

Lehecka himself admitted he had run into “Grand Slam Carlos,” and Alcaraz couldn’t hide his delight at the remark. “It feels great, you know, hearing those words from my opponent today. I think today I just played a really, almost perfect match,” he said. For the Spaniard, the focus remains simple: two more matches to go. “

Playing a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam and feeling that way, it seems like, OK, just two more steps to do and let’s see what

See Full Page