'Getting there' - Alcaraz into US Open last 16 along with Sabalenka
NEW YORK: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz fended off hard-hitting Wu Yibing in straight sets on Friday and says his game is “getting there” as he hits the US Open fourth round.
NEW YORK: Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, advanced to the US Open fourth round after a straight sets victory over Wu Yibing, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. The Spaniard, who has been sidelined by a four-month injury absence, praised Wu's aggressive baseline game, stating, "His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it's really difficult to control sometimes."
Despite Wu's early breaks in the first two sets, Alcaraz maintained his composure, breaking back in the final game of each set and saving break points in the third set. The 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul, who won from the 15th seed Alexander Bublik, will face Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4, showcasing a powerful performance with 29 winners and only 10 aces.
Sabalenka, who must win the tournament to retain her number one ranking, will next play Taylor Townsend. Jessica Pegula, a third-seeded American, upset Canadian Leylah Fernandez in a hard-fought three-set match. In other matches, Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and American Emma Navarro also advanced, with Kostyuk defeating Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova and Navarro upsetting seventh-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova.
The night session features former Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams returning to Ashe with her sister Venus for doubles, marking their first major doubles appearance together since 2022.
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