Carlos Alcaraz in classy act after US Open semi-final devastation
The 20-year-old showed why he is a fan favourite even in defeat.
Carlos Alcaraz has fallen short of setting-up a clash with Novak Djokovic in the final after losing to Daniil Medvedev at the US Open, but the Spaniard showed his class towards the tennis fans in attendance after the match. Medvedev showed his experience and guile in the semi-final, outthinking the young Spaniard to win a 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 thriller.
Alcaraz was left deflated after the match with plenty of hype surrounding an Alcaraz-Djokovic final with the duo having met at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. This was not to be as the Russian's game plan frustrated the Spaniard.
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Alcaraz embraced Medvedev at the net, before heading off down the tunnel to face the press conference. However, in a classy act from the 20-year-old, Alcaraz stopped to thank some fans before the end of his New York appearance. Many fans had stayed around till the early hours of the morning to cheer on the Spaniard.
His classy gesture would have been all the more harder having fought his way back into the match after looking down and out in the first two sets. Alcaraz had his chances in the fourth set, but paid for some mistakes.
He still finishes his 2023 grand slam season with a Wimbledon title and two semi-final appearances across three tournaments.
Very nice touch from Alcaraz when leaving the court, clapping a lot of fans.
Not much to regret today, tbh. Medvedev was top class.
The 20yo ends his Grand Slam season with a title and two semifinals in three Slams played. 17 wins, 2 losses to Djokovic and Medvedev. pic.twitter.com/tRfYoubasn— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 9, 2023
This is a total circus now. What a chance wasted by Alcaraz on break point. Incredible!
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 9, 2023
Carlos Alcaraz devastated after US Open loss
Alcaraz was left reeling after his defeat with a lot of pressure mounting on his expected showdown with Djokovic in the final. The Spaniard admitted he lost his composure in the semi-final and he faced some 'growing up' on the tennis court.
"I thought that right now I am better player to find solutions when the match is not going in the right direction for you," Alcaraz said. "But after this match I'm gonna change my mind. I'm not mature enough to handle these kind of matches. So I have to learn about it.
"I'm gonna think about this loss for a long time. Of course I have to learn about it. I want to be better. These kind of matches help you a lot to be better and grow up in these kind of situations."
Alcaraz admitted the first-set tiebreak played on his mind throughout the match. "Let's say, I lose my mind," Alcaraz said. "I make three or four points without control. I didn't think. I totally lose my mind on that set. Fighting for 50 minutes and then, you know, for four points lose my mind.
"It was really tough for me to handle it." Medvedev will now play Djokovic in the US Open final in a rematch of their 2021 duel.
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