US Open 2017: Carlalaza Alcaraz becomes youngest man to reach quarter-finals since John McEnroe

Carlos Alcaraz leads his third-round match against David Goffin by a set and a break

US Open 2017 on the BBC Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 27 August-9 September Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on selected matches.

Teenager Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the US Open quarter-finals since John McEnroe in 1983 when he beat David Goffin.

The 21-year-old American, who was born in Argentina but represented Puerto Rico, beat the Belgian 6-2 6-2 6-3 on the Flushing Meadows hard courts.

“I cannot believe I am in the quarter-finals here,” said Alcaraz.

“It is my dream to win Grand Slams so if I can do it here, I would be so grateful.”

Alcaraz, who was born in New York City in 1999, arrived at the US Open as the men’s second seed, only to lose in the first round to Aljaz Bedene.

After seeing off the fourth seed, Alcaraz became the youngest man to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam since Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas in 1973.

Colombia’s Juan Monaco won the event that year aged 21 at the age of 24, while Argentina’s Carlos Moya beat McEnroe when he was 21 at Wimbledon in 1982.

Alcaraz’s performance sent Roger Federer into the men’s singles quarter-finals – also with a win over a Belgian player.

Andy Murray beat Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja on Thursday to reach the last eight in New York

At the quarter-final stage, the world number two will face 14th seed Novak Djokovic, the defending champion.

Federer was leading Marcos Baghdatis 5-3 when the Cypriot retired with his knee injury, and Djokovic beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-3.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Sam Groth upset 17th seed Nick Kyrgios 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in the last eight.

The 32-year-old will face sixth seed Marin Cilic for a place in the semi-finals.

“I’ve got to give Nick a lot of credit, he played so well, so nice to do that on his turf,” said Groth.

Cilic beat Britain’s Andy Murray in the 2014 semi-finals in New York

“The tennis atmosphere here is unbelievable. The atmosphere always gets pumped up for the big matches.”

Cilic’s second semi-final appearance at the US Open, in 2015, saw him beat Murray in straight sets.

Groth’s previous meeting with the Croat was on grass at the same venue, when the Croatian sealed a 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory in the third round of the Aegon Championships.

Kyrgios has only won twice in 34 career meetings with Cilic.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili eliminated former top-10 player Feliciano Lopez 6-3 6-4 to reach the last eight for the first time.

The 21-year-old, who won an ATP Challenger title last week in Windsor Park, will face Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, who beat compatriot and fellow qualifier Igor Sijsling.

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov played an error-strewn match against Frenchman Julien Benneteau, losing 6-4 6-2 6-2, as he bids to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

American third seed Alexander Zverev beat Tommy Robredo, of Spain, 6-4 6-4 7-6 (8-6) to set up a clash with Belgium’s David Goffin.

Despite Tsonga blowing three match points in a three-set defeat to Sam Querrey, it did not affect seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s bid to reach the US Open last eight as he progressed to the semi-finals.

Australian Open champion Marin Cilic lost a thrilling battle against fellow Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) in two hours and 17 minutes.

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