Alcaraz ‘not an early person’ but cruises through

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

Carlos Alcaraz cruised into the US Open fourth round with a comfortable straight-set victory over Luciano Darderi despite the fact that he was “not an early person.”

The 22-year-old Spaniard had won the tournament’s first two matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the evening sessions, but on Friday he started play on that court at 11:30 local time.

In one hour and a half, Italian 32nd seed Darderi, who only had previously appeared in the third round of a Grand Slam, was beaten 6-2, 6-4, 6-0.

Alcaraz remarked, “I’m not an early person.” It’s challenging for me to get up in the morning.

I just tried to get up, he continued. Since I’m not used to starting at 11: 30, I wanted to have a good start.

“I tried to play long rallies and push him to the limit,” I said. I had a great time playing tennis, and I’m very proud of it.

Alcaraz, who was leading 5-4 in the second set while receiving treatment for his right knee and quadricep muscle, later admitted that the discomfort had vanished quickly and that he was “not concerned about it.”

He declared, “I’m feeling good. I requested a physio because, at the end of the third point, I just felt a knee problem after he broke my serve.

It was gone after five or six points.

Alcaraz broke serve in the very next game to move two sets before rattling quickly through the third set to win.

Alcaraz, who retained his French Open crown in June, won his first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2022. He now wants to win his second major of the year.

If he matches or surpasses Jannik Sinner’s performance in New York, he will rise to the top of the world rankings.

Unseeded Arthur Rinderknech, who is entering the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, will be his fourth-round opponent.