Alcaraz, Sabalenka romp into last 16 at US Open

World number one Carlos Alcaraz surged into the last 16 of the US Open on Saturday as second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka advanced safely in the women’s draw. Alcaraz, looking to become the first man to successfully defend the title since Roger Federer in 2008, polished off British 26th seed Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in 3hr 11min.
It was another stylish victory for the 20-year-old Spaniard, who will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the fourth round tomorrow. The Spaniard kept Evans on the back foot with his booming forehand while delighting the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with several of his signature forehand drop shots.
Alcaraz also produced one of the shots of the tournament to clinch a decisive break in the fourth set, curling a logic-defying forehand up the line past Evans for a 4-2 lead. “He’s a tricky opponent,” Alcaraz said. “I think when we play each other it’s a show on the court. We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kinds of situations.”
Alcaraz, who will surrender his world number one ranking to Novak Djokovic at the end of this tournament, admitted he was motivated by matching Federer in defending his crown.
“Obviously defending the title is a goal for me,” he said. “I’m looking for that. Nobody’s done it here since Roger so I’d love to be part of tournament history with him.”
Alcaraz’s last-16 opponent Arnaldi, meanwhile, advanced after upsetting 16th-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in just under two hours.
Arnaldi, 22, had never played in the main draw of a Grand Slam before this season, with a brief run to the second round at Roland Garros his best performance in a major championship.
There was better luck for another member of Britain’s US Open contingent elsewhere though, with Jack Draper reaching the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over American world No 89 Michael Mmoh. The win was especially sweet for the 21-year-old Briton, who was forced to withdraw with an injury at the same stage of the tournament last year. Draper will face either France’s Arthur Rinderknech or eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev tomorrow for a place in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic survives scare
On early hours on Saturday, Djokovic conjured a trademark comeback from two sets down to defeat Serbian compatriot Laslo Djere in a five-set thriller and seal his place in the last 16.
Second seed Djokovic recovered from a sluggish start on the Arthur Ashe Stadium to complete a 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory in 3hr 45min. The win marked the eighth time in Djokovic’s career that he has overturned 0-2 deficit to win in five sets at a Grand Slam tournament. “I hope you enjoyed the show,” Djokovic told fans in an on-court interview after a match that wrapped up at around 1.30am local time. “It was definitely not so enjoyable for me, especially in the first two sets. It was one of the toughest games I’ve played here for many, many years.”
Djokovic, who is chasing a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title, will now play Croatia’s 105th-ranked Borna Gojo today for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s draw, Australian Open champion Sabalenka maintained her dominant start to the tournament with a 60-minute demolition of France’s Clara Burel, winning 6-1, 6-1. “I’m super happy with the performance today,” Sabalenka said afterwards. “I think I played great tennis today.”
The Belarusian right-hander will play Russia’s 13th seed Daria Kasatkina tomorrow in the last 16. Kasatkina booked her place in the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen.
“Always tricky matches against her,” Sabalenka said. “I have to be focused and I don’t have to overrush things against her. I just have to stay calm and just wait for the opportunity and take it.”
Meanwhile, 17th seed Madison Keys became the second American woman into the last 16 after Coco Gauff with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova.