Red-hot Carlos Alcaraz powers into US Open semifinals after crushing Jiri Lehecka

Wednesday, 03 September 2025 at 09:21

Carlos Alcaraz is already in the US Open semifinals after a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jiří Lehečka in another absolute display of high-level tennis. It took the world No. 2 less than two hours to dispatch the Czech star and reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam for the ninth time in his career (and the third time at the US Open).

The Spaniard continues to show why he's a favorite and is now in the tournament's final four. Alcaraz has a 10-match winning streak and a 59-6 record so far this season, along with six titles. He'll have a difficult mission in the semifinals, where he awaits the winner between Taylor Fritz and Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz's strong start

Things quickly went in Alcaraz's favor after he got an early break in Lehečka's first service game. The Czech—who was making his US Open quarterfinal debut—had been notable on serve throughout the tournament, but it only took a couple of lapses in concentration for Alcaraz to steal a break and take the lead.

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The Spaniard, as he has shown all season, was a rock on his serve, getting through the entire set without major issues. In fact, Alcaraz came even closer to getting another break when he had a chance in the third game, though he couldn't convert. Both players held serve without a hitch for the rest of the set, and Alcaraz took the lead 6-4 after winning 78% of his service points.

A dominant second set

The second set took a similar turn as Alcaraz got an early break and once again went up 2-0 after just a few minutes. Carlitos held his serve without trouble, but the first doubts for the Spaniard arrived in the middle of the set. Lehečka managed to get his first break point of the match, but he couldn't convert it, and Alcaraz pulled through with some good service games.

After failing to capitalize on his opportunity, the Czech found himself in trouble again when he was serving at 2-4. A couple of break chances allowed Alcaraz to increase his lead. The five-time major champion didn't hesitate in the final part of the set and closed it out 6-2 after 37 minutes, taking a significant lead over his opponent.

Third Set

At the start of the third set, Lehečka finally managed to hold his serve. Being the first to serve gave him a slight edge, constantly putting Alcaraz under pressure to defend his own service game. The Spaniard didn't let up, conceding only a few points on his serve and looking much sharper on the return.

With the score at 3-3, Alcaraz got his first break opportunity of the set. However, Lehečka kept his cool to pull through and remain unbroken. A few minutes later, with the score at 4-4, Alcaraz got another chance, and this time, he seized it. The Spaniard secured the break and then confidently served out the match.

Alcaraz conceded just two points on his serve in the final set, winning 91% of them. He hit 12 winners compared to his opponent's six, while Lehečka had seven unforced errors against Alcaraz's five. The 22-year-old star now awaits his semifinal opponent, who will be the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz.

Match Statistics Lehecka vs. Alcaraz

Lehecka	VS	Alcaraz
	Service
4	Aces	5
4	Double Faults	2
64% (55/86)	1st Service Percentage	63% (45/71)
67% (37/55)	1st Service Points Won	84% (38/45)
45% (14/31)	2nd Service Points Won	73% (19/26)
56% (5/9)	Break Points Saved	- (0/0)
71% (10/14)	Service Games	100% (14/14)
	Return
16% (7/45)	1st Return Points Won	33% (18/55)
27% (7/26)	2nd Return Points Won	55% (17/31)
	Other
1h 58m	Match Duration	1h 58m

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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