{"id":1427,"date":"2023-09-07T13:52:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T13:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/alcaraz-powers-through-as-us-open-rivals-feel-the-heat-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-07T13:52:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T13:52:07","slug":"alcaraz-powers-through-as-us-open-rivals-feel-the-heat-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/alcaraz-powers-through-as-us-open-rivals-feel-the-heat-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcaraz powers through as US Open rivals feel the heat | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nNEW YORK:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the semi-finals of the US Open on Wednesday as rival Daniil Medvedev<\/a> battled through a brutal heatwave to join the Spaniard in the last four.<\/p>\n

Defending champion Alcaraz moved to within one win of a potential dream final with Novak Djokovic with an emphatic straight sets victory over German 12th Alexander Zverev.<\/p>\n

Zverev<\/a> had emerged as a dark horse after a marathon five-set win over Italy’s sixth seed Jannik Sinner on Monday.<\/p>\n

But the German’s hopes of extending his stay in New York were obliterated by a devastatingly clinical performance from Alcaraz, who completed a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win in 2hr 30min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.<\/p>\n

The victory leaves the 20-year-old Alcaraz<\/a> firmly on course for another final showdown with 23-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic after their Wimbledon classic in July.<\/p>\n

Djokovic faces unseeded American Ben Shelton in Friday’s other semi-final.<\/p>\n

“I’m feeling really comfortable playing on this court, playing in New York,” said Alcaraz, who will face Russian third seed Medvedev in the semi-finals on Friday.<\/p>\n

“I’m feeling strong. I think I’m ready for a great battle against Medvedev,” added Alcaraz, who has dropped just one set en route to the last four.<\/p>\n

Medvedev had earlier secured his place in the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot Andrey Rublev in punishing, furnace-like conditions that the Russian said endangered players.<\/p>\n

New York has been sweltering in a heatwave this week, with high humidity and temperatures at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday hitting 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).<\/p>\n

Tournament organisers confirmed that extreme heat measures were in effect for the quarter-final — but Medvedev was clearly unimpressed.<\/p>\n

At one point during the third set, the 2021 US Open champion muttered to a nearby TV camera “one player is going to die and they’re going to see” as he grabbed a towel.<\/p>\n

“The conditions were brutal. The only good thing is that both players suffer, so it’s tough for both of us,” Medvedev said after his victory in 2hr 48min.<\/p>\n

“At the end of the first set I kind of couldn’t see the ball anymore. I kind of just played with sensations.”<\/p>\n

Both Medvedev and Rublev attempted to cool down during changeovers by wrapping towels packed with ice around them, while Medvedev could be seen puffing from an inhaler.<\/p>\n

Wednesday’s play got under way earlier in blazing sunshine on Arthur Ashe, where China’s Zheng Qinwen struggled before being overwhelmed by second seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-1, 6-4.<\/p>\n

Zheng said the partially closed roof on Arthur Ashe — a move designed to protect spectators from the sun — had caused her problems, making it hard to focus on the ball with shadows darkening part of the court.<\/p>\n

“I hate that different half-shadow, half-sun,” Zheng said. “Because I feel that’s also bad, I mean, my eyes.”<\/p>\n

Sabalenka however had no difficulty in adapting, with the Belarusian dominating her opponent with a powerful service game that sends her into a last four meeting with 17th seeded American Madison Keys.<\/p>\n

Sabalenka was assured of replacing Iga Swiatek at the top of the women’s rankings after the Polish No.1 crashed out of the US Open on Sunday.<\/p>\n

However Sabalenka said she is not thinking about her new-found status as the world’s top player just yet.<\/p>\n

“Of course I’m happy … it’s incredible for me and my family.<\/p>\n

“But I have some things still to do in New York this year and I’ll think about becoming No.1 after the US Open.”<\/p>\n

Sabalenka now faces another Grand Slam clash with Keys after beating the American in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in July.<\/p>\n

Keys, who reached the US Open final in 2017, advanced to the last four after defeating Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4.<\/p>\n

Vondrousova was left ruing her failure to convert any of nine break points that came her way, while Keys was a perfect three-from-three on break points.<\/p>\n

“I love playing here, in front of a home crowd — you never feel like you can’t get out of any situation,” Keys said.<\/p>\n

Vondrousova said she had struggled to cope with the power of Keys’ serve and groundstrokes.<\/p>\n

“I felt like I was under so much pressure from the first point,” Vondrousova said. “There wasn’t so much to do, honestly. It was very tough. I was just trying to fight, run for every ball. She was just too good.”<\/p>\n

The match was halted in the first game of the opening set after a spectator required treatment for a medical emergency. US Open organisers later said the incident was not heat-related.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n