Carlos Alcaraz captivated the audience at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a sensational behind-the-back shot during his victory over Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round of the US Open. The young Spanish tennis star showcased his quick-thinking improvisation, winning a pivotal point that had fans on their feet and roaring with applause. Meanwhile, Alcaraz sent the crowd into raptures with a dazzling display. This triumph was the crux of his memorable journey for a sixth Grand Slam title and a second at this iconic tournament.
Without dropping a set so far in this year’s US Open, Alcaraz has shown dominance in his run. He beat Rinderknech 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. In all, the thrilling final match lasted two hours and 12 minutes, where Alcaraz impressed the world with his extraordinary poise and talent. With this win, he became the youngest man in the Open Era history to reach 13 Grand Slam quarterfinals. He argued past Boris Becker for this remarkable feat.
That astonishing sequence came on the very first point, when Alcaraz completely mis-timed his approach shot but improvised his reaction. Without even looking, he threw his racket behind his back. With a demonstrative return Isaacs sent the ball deep and high, almost flooring Rinderknech, who eventually was forced to volley into the net. This display of athleticism was reminiscent of a similar shot Alcaraz executed against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open.
In his post-match comments, Alcaraz shared that he occasionally practices the behind-the-back shot.
“Sometimes, I practice it, I’m not going to lie,” – Carlos Alcaraz
He continued to expand on his mindset throughout the game, throwing more light into his free-form playstyle.
“In the match, it’s kind of the same. If I have the opportunity, why not? People like it, I like playing tennis like this, so it just came naturally.” – Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz just won his first ATP Match! He is now set up to meet Jiří Lehečka of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. As he steps into this new challenge, he’s undeterred and optimistic about his strength and athleticism.
“I’m just going to the court thinking: I’m playing well and just feeling great physically,” – Carlos Alcaraz
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