Spaniard follows Djokovic
Carlos Alcaraz stumbles briefly but stays on course
09/02/2023, 9:50 p.m
In the third match, Carlos Alcaraz loses a set at the US Open for the first time, but in the end the defending champion moves safely into the round of 16 of the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the round of 16 at the US Open even after losing the first set. The 20-year-old tennis star from Spain had to pass the toughest test so far in this edition of the Grand Slam tournament in New York in a 6: 2, 6: 3, 4: 6, 6: 3 against the British Daniel Evans.
However, the third entry into the round of the top 16 in his third participation in the US Open was never in serious danger. In the fourth set, Alcaraz was able to parry all attacks by Evans, seeded number 26 – at one of the young star’s many spectacular shots, the 33-year-old looked in disbelief and threw his racket into the net in frustration. “It was a pretty good match,” said Alcaraz. “There were great points that made us both smile.”
Alcaraz, who will lose his top position in the world rankings to the Serbian Novak Djokovic after the last Grand Slam tournament, regardless of how the US Open goes, will meet the Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 16, who surprised when he took part in the US Open for the first time . In the third round, the 22-year-old defeated number 16 seeded British player Cameron Norrie in three sets 6:3, 6:4, 6:3.
Superstar Novak Djokovic also made it to the round of 16 the day before. However, the record Grand Slam winner had to work much harder than Alcaraz: Djokovic had to make up a 0: 2 set deficit against his compatriot Laszlo Djere before he could win after the 4: 6, 4: 6, 6: 1, 6 :1, 6:3 after 3:45 hours.
Alcaraz and Djokovic can only meet in a possible final and thus ensure a new edition of the Wimbledon final. There the two had delivered one of the most spectacular finals in Grand Slam history before Alcaraz was allowed to cheer after an epic five-set thriller.