Carlos Alcaraz pushed all the way in thrilling five-set win over Frances Tiafoe

In all honesty, Frances Tiafoe had previously told Carlos Alcaraz that he was going to challenge him. And he came very close to defeating him. After winning the first set against the defending champion, the 29th seed Tiafoe put up a strong fight in a thrilling five-set match that almost eliminated the Spaniard from the tournament.

The most recent game between these two players, which took place in the 2022 US Open semi-final, was truly remarkable. It was a rare occurrence where the second game was just as exciting as the first. Alcaraz commented on the match, stating that it is always difficult to play against Tiafoe because he is a very talented player. Alcaraz found it challenging to adjust his game and come up with strategies to win.

At one point, the American was close to a surprising win by only six points. With the score tied at four-all in the fourth set, Alcaraz was struggling, facing a 0-30 deficit while serving. The crowd rallied behind him, showing support as if he was the underdog against Tiafoe.

The French Open champion was motivated by that moment, pushing himself to come back and win the game. This led to a tie-break with truly outstanding tennis, making an already intense match even more thrilling. "I kept telling myself to keep fighting with each ball," he explained. "I always push myself to go for it, even if it means losing in the end."

The match between "Big Foe" and "Little Carlos" seemed like a championship bout. They even exchanged some playful banter leading up to the fight, with Tiafoe stating he was "prepared to battle" his close friend. Many people doubted the excitement surrounding the match. However, their intense five-set match at Flushing Meadows pushed Alcaraz toward his first of three grand slam victories, while Tiafoe's career has taken a different path.

The semi-final match is the furthest an American player has reached in major tournaments so far. Since the previous summer, the player has fallen from the top 10 ranking to 29th place. He parted ways with his coach, Wayne Ferreira, who is now coaching Britain's Jack Draper. Draper defeated Tiafoe in the quarter-finals last month, ending his title defense in Stuttgart. Tiafoe admitted that he became too comfortable and maybe he was just waiting for a bigger stage to showcase his skills.

In the hot and humid conditions under the Centre Court roof, this match quickly became intense. A long 22-shot rally impressed the audience, and when Alcaraz finally got the first break, Tiafoe quickly broke back. At four-all, Alcaraz saved three break points with his powerful serve and then won two more to win the game.

The player ranked third hit shots in a strategic way. Tiafoe moved quickly and defended near the net. Even though Tiafoe sometimes hit too hard - even hitting the ball into his own side of the court - it worked for him. While Alcaraz was hitting shots from different directions, Tiafoe was able to defend against them all, and the audience was enjoying it. Tiafoe noticed this and encouraged them to cheer even louder.

Alcaraz had said that the match would be very enjoyable to watch and play, and he was right. The atmosphere was filled with happiness. There was a funny moment when both players questioned calls in the game. Tiafoe's challenge was very close, but Alcaraz's was clearly wrong, and his opponent humorously gestured that fact with a wide hand gesture.

Tiafoe appeared to really like some of Alcaraz's impressive plays, smiling back at his buddy after a great shot. There was also a sweet moment when Tiafoe fell while running towards the net and laid on his back. Alcaraz looked over the net before coming around to give him a hand and help him get back up.

However, Tiafoe did not give up easily, even though Alcaraz was his friend. Despite Alcaraz winning the second set 6-2, Tiafoe displayed the same determination he had shown earlier in the tournament when he came back from being two sets down in his first-round match against Matteo Arnaldi. He engaged Alcaraz in a strategic game of tennis around the court until the pressure became too much for his opponent. At three-all, 15-all, Alcaraz made a mistake and hit a volley past the baseline, allowing Tiafoe to break his serve and take the lead with two sets to one.

"Frances, it's your time to shine!" yelled a member of the audience. After the tense moments in Alcaraz's previous match, this one was the real challenge. Vukic had called Alcaraz a smiling assassin, but there were moments in this match when Alcaraz's intense concentration wavered. He tried twice to hit the ball between his legs but missed both times. Another shot went wild into the crowd.

Only when Alcaraz was close to losing did he start playing his best. He was asked how his team must have felt with all the pressure. He replied, "They feel the pressure more than I do. But I can't win without them."

Tiafoe has shown his fans and himself the skills he possesses. It's impressive, especially considering he used to feel defeated by lesser opponents.