Key events
Third set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-6, 2-2 Alcaraz
As joyful and life-affirming as watching Alcaraz is, though, it’s a bit disappointing we haven’t had closer quarter-finals today. And that’s after seven out of eight of yesterday’s fourth-round matches were settled in straight sets too. Cue another easy hold for Alcaraz, to 15.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 2-1 Alcaraz*
At 15-all, some more sorcery from Alcaraz as he chips a forehand cross-court drop shot for the winner off Lehecka’s return! That could even be the best of the lot from Alcaraz today. Does he actually practise shots like that? Or is it totally improvised? It’s quite incredible. A shellshocked Lehecka concedes the next point too. And Alcaraz settles the game with an ace. And Lehecka then holds to 30 but everyone is still thinking about that shot.
Third set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-6, 1-0 Alcaraz*
Lehecka’s resorting to some serve-volleying to try to change the script. It gets him back from 0-30 to 30-all on serve. Alcaraz then pulls the trigger … but his cross-court forehand crashes into the net. And Lehecka holds. Which is more than he managed to do at the start of the first and second sets. Let’s see if he can build on it.
Alcaraz wins the second set 6-2
Alcaraz accelerates to 40-15 and seals it with an ace out wide. He’s a set away from his third US Open semi-final.
Alcaraz breaks: Lehecka 4-6, 2-5 Alcaraz*
Ooohs and aaaahs as Alcaraz works the angles on the opening point and Lehecka hits the net post. 0-15. 0-30. And 15-40, after some absolutely brutal hitting from the Spaniard. Lehecka dispatches a winning volley on the first break point … but double faults on the second! Not only is it a double fault but a double break. Alcaraz will serve for the second set and, barring an absolute overturn of tennis’s order, I can’t see a way back for Lehecka from there.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 2-4 Alcaraz
Laura Robson points out on the Sky commentary that Alcaraz is ready to play again about 30 seconds before the end of every changeover; he’s like a kid out there, with his endless energy and enthusiasm. He does slip 0-30 down, though, which is about as much jeopardy as he’s experienced on serve today. 15-30 then looks for everyone apart from Alcaraz as if it’s going to turn into 15-40 and Lehecka’s first break points … but Alcaraz hits a ridiculous backhand volley winner on the stretch! He’s cupping his ear to his adoring crowd. So instead it’s 30-all. And, very predictably, that quickly becomes game.
Second set: Lehecka 4-6, 2-3 Alcaraz*
Lehecka catches the line for 15-0. Or rather his shot does. Alcaraz comes back for 15-all, and then sprints across the court to not only retrieve Lehecka’s thunderbolt but send it down the line for the winner! Ahahahaha. He’s having such fun out there. He smiles. The whole of Arthur Ashe then smiles with him. 15-30 develops into 30-40. A point for a double break. But Alcaraz flings his forehand into the net. And Lehecka scrambles through to hold.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 1-3 Alcaraz
Lehecka says his outlook on tennis changed when he was out with a back injury last year and that he became more relaxed, realising the sport isn’t everything. I wonder what’s going through his mind as Alcaraz makes a fool of him for 40-15. Alcaraz errs for 40-30, but cracks an ace out wide to keep hold of the break.
Second set: Lehecka 4-6, 1-2 Alcaraz*
15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. Lehecka’s first love hold of the match.
Second set: Lehecka* 4-6, 0-2 Alcaraz
Some good hitting from Lehecka at 15-all but he still loses the point. And doesn’t win another. He’ll be hoping he doesn’t go the way that Alexander Bublik did yesterday against Jannik Sinner, but at least he’s already won more games than Bublik managed in the whole of the match. But this is too easy for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz breaks: Lehecka 4-6, 0-1 Alcaraz*
This is probably the most obvious thing I’ll type all match … but Lehecka really needs to start strongly in this set. Otherwise I fear this quarter-final could already be beyond him. He’s serving first, so if he can get a hold or two or three, at least he’ll be putting some scoreboard pressure on the 2022 champ. But Alcaraz does Alcaraz things at 15-all, showing his superb array of skills, rounding the point off at the net. 15-30. Alcaraz then somehow steadies himself to get back Lehecka’s smash … and Lehecka, not expecting the ball to come back at him, hits well so long the ball probably flew through Queens and into Manhattan. 15-40, two break points. And Alcaraz isn’t distracted by Lehecka’s shot clipping the net and trickling over … he’s still has the speed of foot and thought to retrieve the ball and claim the break.
Alcaraz wins the first set 6-4
A brilliant backhand winner down the line from Lehecka on the opening point gives Alcaraz something to think about. But Alcaraz is immoveable on the next. Well, actually, he’s moving all over the place as he chases down the drop shot and is then sent scampering to the other side of the court, but he refuses to relinquish the point and somehow finds a way to win it. 15-all, which turns into 30-15. And 40-15, two set points. Lehecka hits a viciously angled winner off Alcaraz’s drop on the first … and Alcaraz clunks a forehand into the net on the second! But soon there’s a third, and Alcaraz isn’t feeling so charitable this time.
First set: Lehecka 4-5 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
15-0, 30-0. And then 40-0, courtesy of perhaps Lehecka’s shot of the set, a winning cross-court forehand on the run. He’s trying to out-Alcaraz Alcaraz with that strike for the showreel. Talking of showreels, Alcaraz’s one from the fourth round is especially wizardly and wonderful, even by his standards, if you haven’t yet seen it. Anyway … Lehecka holds to 15 once more. So Alcaraz will serve for the set.
First set: Lehecka* 3-5 Alcaraz (*denotes next server)
As if prove my words (thanks Jiri), Lehecka moves to 15-30 on Alcaraz’s serve. He then gets another chance at 30-all and on a second serve, but he snatches at a backhand. That was a missed opportunity. And Alcaraz makes him pay with a stinging serve that the Czech can’t get back into play.
First set: Lehecka 3-4 Alcaraz* (*denotes next server)
Another hold to 15 for Lehecka; he looks far more settled and skips back to his chair. Despite Alcaraz leading their head-to-head, Lehecka has actually beaten the Spaniard before, in Doha this year, which was the only time they’ve faced each other on a hard court. Alcaraz said after that match he “honestly didn’t know” what he could have done better, such was Lehecka’s level. We haven’t seen that so far today … but there’s the sense now that Lehecka is getting closer to finding a level that can perhaps trouble Alcaraz.
Thanks Daniel. So Alcaraz, his pink-purple daytime number and his buzzcut – which now doesn’t look nearly so severe – step up to serve. There’s the feeling of a little more resistance from Lehecka now, but at 15-all, after a long rally, Alcaraz pulls off the one-two punch with breathtaking power and precision. He then thumps another winner for 40-15. And an unreturned serve for game. This is the first time in his career that he’s reached the quarter-finals of a slam without dropping a set, and you can see why; he’s oozing confidence out there.
*Lehecka 2-3 Alcaraz At change of ends, Laura Robson advised that in Alcaraz’s box, Juan Carlos Ferrero was giggling during that last game; his team seem to have such a good laugh. But this is better from Lehecka, who secures a hold to 15, and that’s it from me for today; here’s Katy Murrells to croon you through the rest of this latest exhibition of unique genius.
Lehecka 1-3 Alcaraz* It almost feels like Alcaraz is mucking about having decided he’s impregnable, prolonging a point with drops and volleys until Lehecka lobs long. And from there, he rushes through a love hold, sealing it with an ace down the T; he’ll have seen Sinner waste Bublik last evening, and so far, this is his interpretation of the same. Real talk: it feels like the pair of them are now too good for everyone but the other.
*Lehecka 1-2 Alcaraz Alcaraz makes 0-15, but Lehecka fights back well only to net a half-volley, caught coming in; Stefan Edberg, he is not. Gosh, and another double means a point for a double break, Alcaraz then flinging himself into a forehand; Leheka does well to send it back, a similar effort then sent wide for deuce. From there, the Czech closes out his hold, on the board at 1-2.
Lehecka 0-2 Alcaraz* A love consolidation for Alcaraz, the forehand that seals it lasered down the line when backpeddling out of court. Even the man himself is impressed with that one.
*Lehecka 0-1 Alcaraz At 15-0, a double, then a netted backhand and Lehacka is immediately under pressure. And though he makes 30-all, Alcaraz ups pace on the forehand with little warning, zetzing down the line before putting away a volley for break point. Lehecka, though, responds well, a big forehand to the corner making deuce … only for a second double to donate advantage. Alcaraz then hits the line with a return, lays a drop, and the riposte goes into the net. For those of us hoping to see a contest, that was not a good sign.
Alcaraz elected to receive, so Lehecka will get us going.
Whoops, I forgot to remember that Alcaraz also played Bellucci, but in this competition, gubbing him 1, 0 and 3. Lehecka has work to do.
Out come our players, both of them sounding confident in pre-match interview. Lehecka will believe he can win but won’t know he can win; he must start well. I’m sure he’ll have a plan for beating Alcaraz, but there’s perhaps no one harder to prepare for because no one plays tennis with such imagination and improvisation.
Something that’s been bothering me: who does Jiri Lehecka look like? I’m pleased to say I’ve got it.
For those of you unfamiliar with 50s football, above is David Pegg, outside-left in the Busby Babes side who was sadly killed in the Munich air crash. As a kid, I thought his name was David Peggleso, on account of this Spinners’ tune.
Lehecka might just’ve hit a new level over the last few months, playing himself back into form during the grass-court swing. It’s true that at Wimbledon, he lost in three to Bellucci, but it took a very fine performance to beat him and on hard, his power can be even more effective. Problem he has, of course, is that Alcaraz is flying.
Next on Ashe: Jiri Lehecka (20) v Carlos Alcaraz (2).
It’s a shame they end the interview there – I’d have loved to hear why Pegula felt that way and how she changed her sense of self. She played pretty well today, but was helped by an opponent who couldn’t get going; whether it’s Sabalenka or Vondrousova next, she can be sure of a sterner test in the semis.
Pegula thinks she’s been playing really solid and starting well; but she knows Krejcikova can come back, so she’s happy to be done. She feels really comfortable playing big matches in front of the craziest crowd on the best court in the world. Ten years ago she didn’t think she could be good at this, but now she guesses she is; I’ll say
Jessica Pegula (4) beats Barbora Krejcikova 6-3 6-3
Pegula 6-3 6-3 Krejcikova* Again, the sun causes issues for Krejcikova, but at 0-15, a forehand winner levels us up. An ace down the middle follows, but Pegula then takes advantage of a short approach, a forehand winner – again, hit cross – passing her opponent coming in. Gosh, and at 30-all, a double donates match point and Krejcikova doesn’t look ready to save one never mind the eight she managed last time out. Oh, and a first serve into the net ups the pressure … then a long forehand means Pegula is in the last four having not lost a set!
*Pegula 6-3 5-3 Krejcikova Pegula might well be feeling it here, broken in her last service game. But a fine inside-out backhand to the corner allows her to come in and thwack another that Krejcikova can’t get back. Krejcikova, though, is starting to connect on return, another deep one good enough for 15-all; Pegula responds with a telling serve down the T, then another deep backhand which makes 40-15. A return into the net follows, and two first serves when needed them takes the American to within a game of the last four.
Pegula 6-3 4-3 Krejcikova* Between games, we see that Krejcikova is playing from further back than previously in the tournament, perhaps looking to buy time as Pegula hits early and flat. But that also means the ball is a bit lower at point-of-contact, whereas if she steps in, she’s a better chance of whacking from down on it from on top. That said, as an error gives away 30-all, my sense remains the major issue is not one of tactics but of quality: Krejcikova is playing like a drain. On deuce, though, a decent second serve allows a forehand winner down the line, and another cross-court takes her to within a game of second-set parity.
*Pegula 6-3 4-2 Krejcikova We’ve all been there, whatever our job: sometimes, what’s usually there just isn’t, or we’re flat when usually we’d be bouncing. Krejcikova might be done-in from the Townsend match, but my guess is she’s just having a bad day, but at 40-15 she flukes a winner, a forehand slice dropping just over the net, and a decent return then makes deuce. She’s going for it now, another good return helping earn advantage, then Pegula nets and that was much more proactive from Krejcikova, who’s been far more cautious than I expected.
Pegula 6-3 4-1 Krejcikova* Up 15-30, Pegula lands a return on to the paint, continues hitting decent lengths, and Krejcikova nets; at 15-40, these two break points feel like match points. A big serve saves the first, then Pegula is marginally wide with an inside-out forehand; that’s a major oversight because she didn’t need to go close to the line to land the winner. No matter: another error allows advantage, a forehand flies long, and that’s the double break in set two. Pegula is nearly there and I’m afraid this is total no-show from Krejcikova.
*Pegula 6-3 3-1 Krejcikova This is really sharp from Pegula, coming in to volley shoulder-height for 30-0. A serve out wide is then followed by a clean-up forehand winner – maybe every player should try an escape room and a few bevvies if this is the result; maybe every GBGer should too – but from nowhere, Krejcikova wins three straight points for deuce. Big test coming up for Pegula, but just as the rally develops, a hooked forehand lands wide and offers her advantage … only for a double to restore deuce. Suddenly, this game feels like a biggun, all the more so when a further double, tentative rather than aggressive like the first, donates advantage. Krejcikova, though, offers an airy drop that’s easily run down and punished, and from there, further errors allow Pegula the hold. If the Czech doesn’t improve soon, she’ll be back in the locker room with only regrets for company.
Pegula 6-3 2-1 Krejcikova* I expected this match to be close because I thought one thing was certain: both players would turn up. So far, though, this hasn’t happened, but at 40-0, Krejcikova is playing a better game while Martina notes that she’s one of four Czechs left in the singles draws, explaining that it’s because of how tennis is taught there. Maybe so, but she’s soon under it again, a winner and an error making 40-30, before Krejcikova goes corner to corner, a forehand winner getting her on the board in set two.
*Pegula 6-3 2-0 Krejcikova If Pegula consolidates here, she’ll feel close to the finish line, shaking her feet at 30-15, to keep herself moving; she knows how important these next points are. And when Krejcikova fails to mete out treatment to a second serve that barely clambers over the net, an error follows next shot, then a backhand drops long and I don’t think she can play much worse than this.
Pegula 6-3 1-0 Krejcikova* Krejcikova will be concerned: she played exceptionally poorly in that set, having to fight through deuce in her two holds then, when she broke, she immediately surrendered her gain, and at the start of set two, successive doubles mean she’s down 0-40. Big trouble and big pressure, all the more so when her first serve flies long; to make sure there’s no hat-trick, she takes even more power off and Pegula doesn’t need asking twice, thumping a backhand winner down the line, securing a break to love.
Jessica Pegula takes the first set against barbora Krejcikova 6-3
*Pegula 6-3 Krejcikova At 0-15, Krejcikova carelessly wafts long then, after netting a forehand slice, Pegula hits a better ball for 30-all. Two points away from the set, she serves out wide then races in and finds a terrific angle, cutting the court to break the sideline, and when Krejcikova goes long, that’s enough for the set, Pegula by far the better player in it.
Pegula 5-3 Krejcikova* Down 0-15, Krejcikova swings an ace down the T, as Martina rhapsodises the woman who taught her everything, the late Jana Novotna. What a day it was when she finally won Wimbledon; I can’t imagine anyone other than Nathalie Tauziat was disappointed to see that happen. Anyroad up, back to our match and Pegula makes 30-40, is handed another second serve – she’s getting right after those – and when she whacks back flat, Krejcikova can only net. All that hard work to get back into the set, and now she must break again to avoid losing it.
*Pegula 4-3 Krejcikova A double hands Krejcikova 15-30, then a forehand on to the line earns two break-back points; she’s nearly back in a set she might easily have lost heavily. But she’s started to stand a bit closer to the line in the last couple of games, rushing Pegula, who again put under pressure, nets for 4-3, and how she’ll be regretting her failure to convert break point in each of her last two returning games.
Pegula 4-2 Krejcikova* Pegula doesn’t go deep enough with her approach, so she’s passed coming in for 30-15, but her desire get to net shows the aggressive intent often missing from here game. And though, at 30-all, she dumps a backhand, a poor body-serve arrives right into the slot, a forehand cross-court breaking the sideline for a winner and another deuce. A double follows, but Krejcikova again saves herself from falling a double-break behind, then quickly secures her hold with a serve-volley one-two.
*Pegula 4-1 Krejcikova Down 15-30, Pegula again relies on her forehand cross, then a high-kicking ace down the T earns game point. And this time, as they go backhand to backhand, Krejcikova nets, and she needs to improve quickly, else this set will be gone with her barely participating in it.
Pegula 3-1 Krejcikova* A little better from Krejcikova, who makes 30-15 when Pegula slices into the net and, in comms, Martina bemoans the lack of classic matches so far this tournament. I really enjoyed Muchova v Kostyuk yesterday, for what that’s worth; meantime, Pegula opens the court with another forehand, then hits a backhand into the space she created for 40-30, quickly making deuce thereafter. She’s started like she means it, but when she fails to convert on advantage, Krejcikova closes out, a backhand winner – her first of the match – sealing the deal.
*Pegula 3-0 Krejcikova Krejcikova had to save eight match points to beat Townsend in round four and perhaps that’s still in her legs, or her mind; she’s not got going here at all. But she does get to 40-30 only to allow a weak second serve to escape unpunished; another forehand winner secures the consolidation.
Pegula 2-0 Krejcikova* Superb from Pegula, waiting as both players hit down the middle before clouting another winner cross-court. Oh, and she goes again next point; we’ll need to wait and see, but I think she fancies herself forehand to forehand, and what on earth?! Looking to dispatch a simple putaway, Krejcikova misses everything – the sun must’ve been a factor, but she’s wearing a visor and, perhaps discombobulated, a double hands over the break to love.
*Pegula 1-0 Krejcikova (*denotes server) Solid from Pegula to open, making 30-15, Krejcikova then slaps a return long before dictating the next point, targeting the forehand then coming in to put a volley into the opposite corner. She’s looking to attack here, taking the ball early and coming into the net.
Pegula to serve, ready … play.
By the way, how good was Naomi Osaka yesterday? I can’t lie, after watching her against Hailey Baptiste, I had a quiet one with my local turf accountant, but she’s got plenty of work to do before I’m taking us all to the discotheque. We’ll talk more about it tomorrow, but Karolina Muchova poses a very different test to Coco Gauff, and if she wins that one, it’s Amanda Anisimova or Iga Świątek next. If she takes the title again, she’ll have earned it.
Krejcikova, meanwhile, has greater power and variety – where Pegula hits flat, she likes to vary spins, hitting with top and slice, the latter even on forehand, and of course she’s the bigger server. We can be certain she’ll come on to court with a plan, whereas I wonder if Pegula might just do what she always does and hope she does it well enough to win.
The other thing, of course, is fitness. Pegula has had knee grief and neck aggro, taking time off to recuperate, but she’s in nick now; we said earlier that she lacks power, but no one in the competition has broken more than she.
Pegula was properly unhappy with her form after her first hit – she said she hit with Sabalenka and took a hiding. But then she did an escape rook with her mates, had a couple of drinks, and reminded herself to relax, then played really nicely having a good laugh in the mixed with Jack Draper. She’s feeling pretty decent now.
Preamble
Yes yes y’all and welcome to the US Open 2025 – day 10!
We’re at that point, aren’t we? Excitement increasing as competition escalates while, at the back of our minds, that nagging sense of loss because we’re nearing the end. But let’s lozz that for now because awaiting us today are a pair of potentially terrific matches.
In a sense, Jess Pegula and Barbora Krejcikova are opposites. Pegula, seeded four here, had been a member of the numerical elite for quite some time, with nine career titles to her name. But at the slams she tends to bump up against the limitations of her own athleticism, doing no better than the last eight apart from in this tournament last year, when she made the final and kept it tight for bit, but was ultimately outclassed by Aryna Sabalenka.
What will grate is that in the time she’s been good, all manner of player ostensibly less so – and not just those naturally faster and stronger – have won majors. Take Barbora Krejcikova, for example. Previously renowned as a doubles specialist, she’s won both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, relying not otherworldly power, rather an all-court game supported by the ability, mentality and feel to produce her best when it really matters.
So far, this has largely been beyond Pegula who, at 31, is running out of time. But if she hits her top level or close to it, she’ll expect to win here and rightly so.
Following them on to court are Jiri Lehecka and Carlos Alcaraz, whose match in the final of Queen’s was closely contested – until it got close, whereupon suddenly it wasn’t. Ultimately, there was a sense throughout that the world no 2 would do whatever ended up being necessary to win, which intensifies over the longer distance.
However if Lehecka serves well, taking any set off him is difficult – at Queen’s, the first went to 7-5 and he took the second 7-6. Though he’ll have to play the match of his life to make this a serious contest, he’s already beaten Alcaraz on hard this season and, at 23, will feel ready to take the next step. We shall soon see.
Play: 11.30am local, 4.30pm BST
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