Alcaraz to US Open Semifinals: Crushes Lehecka and Seeks #1

Alcaraz Returns to US Open Semifinals with Implacable Dominance

Carlos Alcaraz has secured his place in the US Open semifinals, once again demonstrating his prowess in world tennis. The Spanish tennis player defeated the Czech Jiri Lehecka with authority, in a match that marked his return to this stage of the tournament two years later.

Alcaraz, currently number 2 in the world, defeated Lehecka, number 21, with a score of 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4, in a time of one hour and 56 minutes. This victory not only propels him to the semifinals, but also represents his first appearance in this phase of a ‘Grand Slam’ tournament on hard court since the 2023 US Open. In addition to his progress in the tournament, Alcaraz has surpassed the 10,000-point barrier in the ATP ranking for the first time in his career, virtually placing him at 10,340 points.

An Unstoppable Serve and a Perfect Strategy

Alcaraz demonstrated absolute dominance from the start of the match. His ability to break Lehecka’s serve in the first game of each set set the tone for the match. Furthermore, his serve remained solid, without facing a single ‘break’ point throughout the match. The Spanish player maintained a high percentage of first serves and points won with his first and second serve, which allowed him to deploy his entire arsenal of resources and tricks, including spectacular volleys that undermined Lehecka’s morale. With this strategy, Alcaraz secured the first set with a score of 6-4 and the second with a resounding 6-2.

In Search of Number One

Following his victory, Alcaraz reflected on the possibility of reaching the number one spot in the ATP ranking, currently held by Italian Jannik Sinner.

It’s very difficult not to think about it, it’s obvious. But every time I go on the court I try not to think about it. I think if I focus too much on the number one spot, I’ll put pressure on myself, and I don’t want to do that.

Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz added: “I just want to go out on the court, try to do my thing, follow my goals on the court and enjoy it as much as possible. The number one is there, but I try not to think about it too much.” To climb to the number one spot in the ranking, Alcaraz needs to match the result of Sinner, who is currently in the quarterfinals. On his way to the semifinals, Alcaraz has defeated Reilly Opelka, Mattia Bellucci, Luciano Darderi, Arthur Rinderknech, and Jiri Lehecka, demonstrating his dominance in each match. Alcaraz has maintained an exceptional performance during the 2025 season, accumulating more victories than any other tennis player, with a record of 59-6. In addition, he has conquered six titles, including Roland Garros, Rome, Monte Carlo, Cincinnati and Queen’s, and has reached the final in the last seven tournaments in which he has participated.