Carlos Alcaraz wins epic US Open clash and pulls off shot of the year against Jannik Sinner in game that finished at 2:50am to seal first Grand Slam semi-final

Carlos Alcaraz wrote his name into tennis history as he won one of the most epic matches in the sport to seal his place in the US Open semi-finals.

The exciting Spanish teenager's clash with 21-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner went the distance with five sets and finished close to 3am - making it the latest game ever played at New York’s Flushing Meadows.

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In the battle of the young guns, 19-year-old Alcaraz finally clinched a 6-3 6-7 6-7 7-5 6-3 victory at 2.50am after five hours and 15 minutes of full throttle tennis to set up a clash with Frances Tiafoe on Friday.

It’s not the first time a match in New York has stretched into the early hours - remarkably, three matches had previously finished at 2.26am.

This was also the second time Alcaraz had played beyond 2am in succession, after his fourth-round win over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic finished at 2.23am.

And while it wasn't the longest US Open match is history, it was a new record for the latest finish and the drama continued until the very last point.

The Spaniard saved a match point in the fourth set and came from a break down in the decider to show once again why he’s being touted as a future superstar of the sport - having already beaten both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this year.

Alcaraz also produced one of the shots of the year to help down his opponent - firing back Sinner’s shot with an improvised behind-the-back effort before firing a cross-court winner.

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He could yet leave New York as the world number one in a tournament that appears to have signalled a changing of the guard at the top of tennis, with this match in particular showing fans that men's tennis need not be scared of a future without its ageing superstars.

Those spectators who remained in their seats into the early hours gave Alcaraz a rapturous applause, stunned by the level of tennis they witnessed.

And those at Flushing Meadows weren't the only ones enjoying a late-night tennis feast, with American player Coco Gauff risking missing a flight to watch the action unfold.

"Honestly I still don't know how I did it,” Alcaraz said after the match. “The level of the match, high quality of tennis.

"It's unbelievable the match today. Jannik Sinner is a great player. I will never be tired to say that all the wins I have in this amazing court is thanks to the support I receive.

"I just believed in myself, believed in my game. I knew to close a match is really difficult, I have to stay in the match, try to stay calm.”