Following his victory over Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, Alcaraz maintained his impressive form against another powerful server. Lehecka, who had upset Alcaraz in Doha earlier this year, was unable to repeat the feat in New York. In nearly two hours of play, Alcaraz didn't allow his opponent a single break point across all three sets.

Alcaraz during his match against Lehecka in the US Open quarterfinals, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York on 2/9. Photo: Reuters

Alcaraz during his match against Lehecka in the US Open quarterfinals, on Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York on 2/9. Photo: Reuters

Since the start of the tournament, Alcaraz had dropped only one service game, in his third-round match against Luciano Darderi. Against Lehecka, the Spaniard won an impressive 84% of his first-serve points and 73% of his second-serve points. He also capitalized on five out of nine break point opportunities.

Lehecka's aggressive playing style proved ineffective against Alcaraz, who displayed a similar but more refined approach. The Czech player was frequently forced to scramble across the court, chasing down Alcaraz's powerful and well-placed shots.

Alcaraz also showcased excellent net play, winning 19 of 24 points at the net. Many of these points were crucial, coming at key moments in the match. "Sometimes when I go into the living room, I see my younger siblings watching highlights of my matches," Alcaraz joked after the match. "I sit down and watch them too. Every time I see those shots, I remember the matches."

Despite the loss, Lehecka is projected to break into the top 20, rising to number 15 in the world rankings after the tournament. Alcaraz, meanwhile, has now won 59 matches this season and is on track to surpass his personal best of 65 wins in 2023. He will reclaim the world number one ranking if he advances further in the US Open than Jannik Sinner, who was set to face Lorenzo Musetti in the last quarterfinal match on 4/9.

In his first hard-court semifinal appearance since the 2023 US Open, Alcaraz will face either Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz. The 22-year-old Spaniard won the US Open title in 2022.

Vy Anh