Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner in late-night epic to set up US Open semi-final against Frances Tiafoe

Carlos Alcaraz showed incredible resolve to beat Jannik Sinner in a thrillingly high-level contest to reach the US Open semi-finals. Both players produced an outrageous level in an absorbing five-hour match that finished at 2.50am local time, the latest-ever finish at the US Open, beating the previous record of 2.26am. Ad Third seed Alcaraz recovered from a break down in the fourth set and fifth sets, and fended off a match point, before winning 6-3 6-7(7) 6-7(0) 7-5 6-3.

US OpenUS Open finale: The key storylines to look out for as rising stars eye glory19 HOURS AGO «I still don't know how I did it. The level I played, high quality of tennis. It's unbelievable,» said Alcaraz, who is the youngest man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Rafael Nadal at the French Open in 2005.

«I always say you have to believe in yourself all the time. Hope is the last thing you use. I believed in myself, my game.» Alcaraz, who has a chance to become world No.

1 if he makes the final, will next face 22nd seed Frances Tiafoe for a place in the final after he beat ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets. The other semi-final is between fifth seed Casper Ruud and 27th seed Karen Khachanov. Tiafoe had said after his quarter-final earlier in the day that he hoped Sinner and Alcaraz play a “marathon match” – and he got his wish as the pair served up a classic.

How racquet change sparked 'huge momentum' for Swiatek Corretja tips Tiafoe to go all the way Sinner had won the previous two meetings on tour this year but quickly found himself behind as he was broken in the opening game of the match. Although the Italian levelled at 2-2, two more breaks earned Alcaraz the set. Both players upped the ante in the second set.