There is just no stopping Carlos Alcaraz and Leylah Fernandez. The two budding teenage tennis stars continued their fairytale runs at the 2021 US Open on Sunday, recording come-from-behind victories in the fourth round to book their first-ever quarterfinal appearances in a Grand Slam tournament.
Two days after stunning defending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round, Fernandez returned to her giant-killing ways, defeating another former US Open champion in Angelique Kerber.
Fernandez stuns Kerber in three sets
Just like in her win against Osaka, Fernandez battled back from a set down to stun Kerber in three sets, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. She stormed back from a 4-2 deficit in the second set, with Fernandez eventually taking it to a tie-break. Fernandez sustained the momentum in the third set, winning six of the next eight games to grab the unlikely win at the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Things are bound to get more challenging for Fernandez as she will next face Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals. Svitolina extended her unbeaten streak to nine matches when she defeated two-time major winner Simona Halep in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
She is the second highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament after the surprise early exits of top seed Ashleigh Barty and two-time US Open champion Osaka. That won't faze Fernandez, though, who is playing some of her best tennis in this competition. This year, the 18-year-old Canadian star has been in fine form, winning her maiden WTA title in Mexico last March.
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Alcaraz produces another five-set win
Carlos Alcaraz made sure the teenage revolution also continued in the men's draw. He reached his maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal on Sunday with a thrilling five-set win over Peter Gojowczyk. Alcaraz defeated the German qualifier, 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0, to become the youngest US Open quarterfinalist in the Open Era.
The win comes just two days after he stunned third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in a five-set match. The 18-year-old displayed nerves of steel yet again as he recorded consecutive five-set victories for the first time in his very young career.
The Spaniard blasted 35 winners in this contest, five more than Gojowczyk's tally. What proved to be the difference in this match were the unforced errors. Gojowczyk committed 84 unforced errors, 39 more than Alcaraz's tally.
Momentum looked to be with Gojowczyk after winning the third set in 56 minutes to grab a two sets to one lead over Alcaraz. Fatigue, unfortunately, set in for Gojowczyk, which was no surprise. He had already played three qualifying rounds, and two of his three main draw matches ended in five sets.
Alcaraz took full advantage, winning 12 of the next 14 games to seal the victory in three hours and 26 minutes. He now awaits the winner of the showdown between Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe for a place in the US Open semifinals.
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