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Alcaraz, Fernandez storm into US Open quarterfinals

New York, US, Sep 5 (EFE).- Fifty-fifth ranked Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz picked up a five set 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 win against 141st-ranked German Peter Gojowczyk to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Alcaraz, who upset World No. 3 Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in another five set match in the third round, did not play his best tennis but found a way in the end to win against qualifier Gojowczyk.

Alcaraz, who made his Grand Slam debut earlier this year with the Australian Open, ended the three-hour, 31-minute match with 35 winners to 45 unforced errors, in addition to hitting seven aces and committing four double faults, while Gojowczyk hit 30 winners but made 84 unforced errors, including 12 double faults, the maximum in the tournament so far.

In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz will face the winner of the match on Sunday night between American Frances Tiafoe and 12th-ranked Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.

In other men’s singles matches, second-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev easily defeated British 24th seed Daniel Evans 6-3, 6-4 and 6-3, to reach his third consecutive US Open quarterfinals while 11th-seeded Argentinian Diego Schwartzman lost to Dutch qualifier Botis van de Zandschulp in five sets, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 5- 7 and 6-1.

Botis van de Zandschulp will face Medvedev in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Canadian Leylah Fernandez continued her triumphant run at the tournament with a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2 win against defending champion, Germany’s Angelique Kerber, to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time.

With courage and astuteness, and the poise of a veteran in the face of a deficit against an opponent with a longer professional career, 18-year-old Fernandez ended up stunning the 2016 US Open champion in two hours and 15 minutes and proving that her victory over another defending champion Naomi Osaka was no fluke.

“At the end it, was just two, three points which decide the match,” said Kerber, who was playing her 14th US Open. “She took it in her hands.”

“She’s always (…) enjoying her tennis out there,” she added. “I think she can go really far in the next few years.”

Fernandez, who only once had been as far as the third round at a major tournament until now, will face No. 5 seed Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, who cruised past Romanian 12th seed Simona Halep, 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon champion, 6-3, 6-3.

“That’s going to be a very tough match. She’s a fighter,” said Fernandez said of her upcoming quarterfinals match. “I’m just going to go out on court and have fun.” EFE

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