Alcaraz could become the first man to do this at the US Open…
Carlos Alcaraz will have a chance Sunday to become the first man in the Open Era to win the US Open without losing a set.
The Spaniard has not dropped a set through six matches in New York and has lost just 58 games in 18 sets, for an average of just more than three games per set. He has only needed two tie-breaks.
“For me it’s great. It’s something that I’m working on, just the consistency in the matches, in the tournaments, in the year in general,” Alcaraz said. “Just not having ups and downs in the match. Just the level that I start the match [with], just wanted to keep that level really high during the whole match.
“So I’m thinking I’m doing that in this tournament, which I’m really proud about. Yeah, let’s see. But probably I’m just getting mature. I just getting to know myself much better, what I need on, off the court. The things that I’m doing off the court I think I’m doing really, really well, which helps a lot, and to play my best tennis. I think it’s getting better.”
Only five men in the Open Era have won a major without losing a set: Ken Rosewall (1971 Australian Open), Ilie Nastase (1973 Roland Garros), Bjorn Borg (1976 Wimbledon, Roland Garros 2x), Roger Federer (2007 Australian Open, 2017 Wimbledon) and Rafael Nadal (Roland Garros 4x).
Men to win a major without losing a set (Open Era)
| Player | Tournaments |
| Ken Rosewall | 1971 Australian Open |
| Ilie Nastase | 1973 Roland Garros |
| Bjorn Borg | 1976 Wimbledon, Roland Garros 2x |
| Roger Federer | 2007 Australian Open, 2017 Wimbledon |
| Rafael Nadal | Roland Garros 4x |
Alcaraz is a five-time major champion and the least number of sets he has dropped during a championship run is four, when he claimed glory at Wimbledon in 2023. The second seed will take on Jannik Sinner or Felix Auger-Aliassime for the trophy.
The last player to win the tournament without dropping a set was Neale Fraser in 1960, when it was known as the US Championships and not open to professionals.
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