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Teens Carlos Alcaraz and Leylah Fernandez battle back to reach US Open quarter-finals

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Teenagers Carlos Alcaraz and Leylah Fernandez battled back from the brink to book their places in the quarter-finals of the US Open.

Spaniard Alcaraz, at 18, became the youngest player in the Open era to reach the last eight at Flushing Meadows as he recovered to defeat Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk 5-7 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-0.

He now faces Felix Auger-Aliassime, who saw off Frances Tiafoe in four sets.

“I’m super excited to be in my first second week in a Grand Slam so it’s amazing for me, it’s a dream come true,” said Alcaraz. “It’s really tough to play these kind of matches, to play fifth sets.

“I hope to play more second weeks, to play more quarter-finals of Grand Slams. I didn’t expect to play quarter-finals here so I think it’s a really good performance from me in these matches.”

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Fernandez continued her run of upsets in New York by ousting former US Open champion Angelique Kerber 4-6 7-6 6-2.

The Canadian had knocked out Naomi Osaka in the preceding round and showed it wasn’t a one-off on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I was just glad I was having fun on the court,” said Fernandez afterwards. “I have been working hard since the day I started playing tennis and the day I set my mind on being a professional.

“I expected that one day my tennis game is going to come through and that I’m going to be on the big stage in front of a big crowd and getting the wins.”

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