Carlos Alcaraz hailed his epic US Open quarter-final triumph over Jannik Sinner as the greatest match of his career while predicting an imminent changing of the guard in tennis. 

Spain’s Alcaraz, 19, clinched a 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-7 (0-7), 7-5, 6-3 victory in a tie that ended at 2:50 am on Thursday. At five hours and 15 minutes, it was the second-longest US Open match, surpassing the previous record for latest finish in New York of 2:26am.