Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to advance to the third round of the US Open, while Carlos Alcaraz triumphed decisively in straight sets.
On Wednesday, Alcaraz defeated Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-6, 6-3 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium main court in just one hour and 36 minutes. Alcaraz faces Djokovic in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows if the draw follows the seedings.
The 22-year-old Spanish second seed defeated the 65th-ranked Bellucci, whose best Grand Slam performance came with a bid to Wimbledon’s third round earlier this year. The 22-year-old unfurled a string of 32 winners in a dominant display.
Alcaraz, 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, and another Italian in the next round, will face “I played great, from the beginning until the last ball,” Alcaraz said.
He continued, “The more time I spend on court, the better it is for me to go to bed early.”
After falling four sets to American qualifier Zachary Svajda, Serbian legend Djokovic kept his goal of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title alive.
However, Djokovic was forced to redouble after losing the first set before coming away with a 7-6 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win.
The 38-year-old stated that as the tournament progresses, he hopes to improve himself as a result, despite not being at his best.
He said, “That’s what I’m hoping, the more I feel about my game the more I advance,”
With his victory, Djokovic will advance to the third round of the US Open, where he will face Britain’s Cameron Norrie, who defeated argentine Francisco Comesana 7-6 (7 / 5), 6-3, 6-7 (0 / 7), 7-6 (7 / 4), in a record-equal 19th time.
Casper Ruud, the 2022 US Open finalist, lost to Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in other men’s tennis action on Wednesday.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz advanced safely, beating South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4.
19 US Open appearances.
Third round: 19 times.Novak Djokovic will always be available. pic. twitter.com/mzi6vJmt7c
Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion and world number one, defeated unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 to advance to the next round of the women’s draw.
Sabalenka asserted her control in the second set after taking the first set of a tie-break. In the third round, the Belarusian will face Leylah Fernandez from Canada.
“The first set was extremely aggressive and tight.” I was relieved to be free from that pressure and to give it back to her. I felt much better in the return game in the second set.
Emma Raducanu of Great Britain defeated Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1, to extend her strong start to the tournament.
In 21 years, Tjen had become the first Indonesian player to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam, and he followed up with a first-round upset win over Veronika Kudermetova, the 24th seed.
But Raducanu, who is aiming to reclaim the US Open title she won as a qualifier aged 18, comfortably outperforms her. Elena Rybakina, the ninth seed, will face Raducanu in the following round.
Tjen’s tournament came to an end as well, as did Filipina Alexandra Eala, a second player from Southeast Asia.
Cristina Bucsa of Spain defeated Eala 6-4, 6-3 to make history as the first Filipino player to win a Grand Slam singles match since her defeat of 14th seed Clara Tauson on Sunday.
After defeating Russian Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6 (6), fourth seed Jessica Pegula advances to the third round. Victoria Azarenka, a 36-year-old two-time Australian Open champion from Belarus, defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to claim a victory.
