Spanish hotshot Carlos Alcaraz ended the run of local hero Frances Tiafoe late on Friday night, booking his place in Sunday’s US Open final with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 win over the 24-year-old American.
Alcaraz, 19, is one match from becoming the new male superstar of tennis – with the winner – either the Spaniard or Casper Ruud, becoming the new world No.1 on Monday.
Tiafoe, a child of immigrants from Sierra Leone, became the first American to reach a US Open semi-final in 16 years, but his young Spanish opponent proved the stronger on the night, winning out in five sets.
Tiafoe took the first in a tiebreak before Alcaraz stepped up his game and grabbed the next two sets before the Maryland-based Tiafoe won the fourth.
Alcaraz then showed why is so highly rated, with superb technical abilities, broke Tiafoe in the first game of the final set before his opponent pulled it back to 2-2.
But Alcaraz then went on the attack mode and broke Tiafoe to ease in front – a position he was never going to give up.
Alcaraz, who hit 59 winners to 36 unforced errors compared to Tiafoe with 51 winners and 52 errors, won the match on his first serves, 70 per cent completions to Tiafoe’s 47 per cent.
