Carlos Alcaraz is the youngest player to reach the men’s quarter-finals of a Grand Slam since Andre Agassi in 1999
Teenager Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest player in the Open era to reach the US Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old former world number 161 lost to Russian Daniil Medvedev in straight sets but that had no impact on his standing in the sport.
His win came just 24 hours after he became the youngest player to enter a Grand Slam quarter-final since Andre Agassi in 1999.
“The day is special to me but tomorrow the priority is a win,” he said.
Alcaraz lost in straight sets to 21-year-old Medvedev, the world number 69, 6-4 6-2 6-4 at Flushing Meadows.
Medvedev beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut earlier on Tuesday to become the first Russian in four years to reach the last eight of a major.
Alcaraz’s victory on Monday came after he defeated British number one Cameron Norrie on Sunday – his first win against a world number 10 at any tournament.
The other top-10 players left in the draw are five-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who is recovering from an elbow injury, and Marin Cilic.
Alcaraz has had a fine week in New York, having beaten two top-10 players in his opening matches, although he has never progressed beyond the second round at any of the four Grand Slams.
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Earlier on Tuesday, French 20-year-old Geoffrey Blancaneaux became the youngest Grand Slam quarter-finalist since 2002 after beating Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil in straight sets.
Dutra Silva, at 35 the oldest player left in the competition, was a set and 4-1 down in the fourth set against Blancaneaux before playing a rollercoaster of a contest.
But, despite losing the last five games of the match, Blancaneaux progressed with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-2 victory.