The world number 1 and defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, qualified for the 1/8th finals of the US Open by dismissing the Briton Daniel Evans (world 28th) on Saturday, to whom he gave up his first set of the tournament, (6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3).
In the round of 16, the young Spanish prodigy, in search, at 20, of a third Grand Slam title (after the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon this season), will face the Italian Matteo Arnaldi, 22 years old. , 61st in the world, which took out the British seed Cameron Norrie (16th player in the world), 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
“He was a tough opponent. I am very, very happy to have arrived there”, declared Alcaraz after his victory in 3h10.
The Spaniard started strong, taking the serve from his 33-year-old opponent twice to wrap up the first set quickly.
In the second set, Evans, recent winner of the Washington tournament, immediately made the break in turn, but Alcaraz chained four games in a row to take the lead, in a match with often spectacular exchanges which delighted the audience of the Arthur Ashe court. “We played some great points, which made us smile. We play to give people pleasure, ”savored the Spaniard.
Combative on all points, Daniel Evans did not miss his chance in the third round, where he committed only one unforced error.
But Alcaraz unlocked the fourth set by taking his opponent’s serve with a somewhat desperate but winning shot from the baseline. He concluded with a shutout, thanks in particular to a superb lob.
Defending champion, Alcaraz faces a difficult table, where he could find in the quarters the Italian Jannik Sinner (6th in the world) then in the semis the Russian Daniil Medvedev, 3rd player in the world.