Carlos Alcaraz was not even two games and eight minutes into his US Open quarter-final against Jiri Lehecka when he reached into his box of tricks to pull out something spectacular. Running backwards and towards his backhand corner, positioned deep into a defensive position behind the baseline and between the tramlines, Alcaraz unleashed a venomous inside-out forehand that scorched past Lehecka before he could even move.
It was some introduction for Lehecka to have as the 23-year-old Czech played his first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. But if losing his serve on his opening game on the biggest court in the world was an inauspicious start for Lehecka, the arrival of Alcaraz the showman so soon into the match was an even clearer warning sign. Lehecka had been expecting the safer crosscourt shot as Alcaraz scampered back and ran around his backhand. The Spaniard instead pulled off the audacious, almost ending up in the front row as he nodded his head and pursed his lips.
