US Open: Alcaraz Exorcises Second-Round Demons, Djokovic Through to Next Round
In an electrifying day at the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz banished the ghosts of last year’s second-round exit with a commanding victory over Mattia Bellucci, while Novak Djokovic shook off a slow start to advance to the third round.
Alcaraz Dominates
The 2022 champion, Alcaraz, entered the match with lingering memories of his shocking defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round last year. Acknowledging his nerves, Alcaraz stated, “I was thinking, okay, I don’t want to do the same thing as I did last year.” However, he quickly found his rhythm, unleashing an impressive 32 winners and winning 86% of his first serve points in a swift 96-minute match, finishing with scores of 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. Alcaraz’s performance sets up a third-round meeting with Italian Luciano Darderi.
Djokovic’s Resilience
In contrast, Novak Djokovic faced a more challenging path against American qualifier Zachary Svajda. After dropping the first set in a tiebreak, Djokovic found his form, prevailing with scores of 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. The 24-time major winner initially struggled with 14 unforced errors in the first set but tightened his game, reducing his errors significantly as the match progressed. Svajda, who had garnered attention for his humorous TikTok video prior to the match, put up a valiant effort before succumbing to an apparent leg injury. Djokovic will next face British player Cameron Norrie.
Sabalenka and American Hopes
In women’s action, world number one Aryna Sabalenka continued her quest for a first major title of the year, defeating Polina Kudermetova 7-6(4), 6-2. The defending champion, who has finished as a runner-up in two other Grand Slams this year, will meet 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez in the next round. “I know if I’m able to bring my game and fight for every point, I’ll have my chances,” Sabalenka remarked.
American players showcased both triumph and disappointment throughout the day. Fourth seed Jessica Pegula cruised past Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3, setting up a clash with three-time finalist Victoria Azarenka, who achieved a milestone by becoming only the fifth woman in the professional era to claim 100 or more singles main draw wins at hardcourt majors.
Frances Tiafoe kept American hopes alive with a hard-fought victory over qualifier Martin Damm, winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(8), 7-5. “You’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to be courageous—there’s no free lunches out here,” Tiafoe said, reflecting on the competitive nature of the tournament.
Upsets and Emerging Talents
The day also featured some unexpected results, with Norwegian 12th seed Casper Ruud falling to Belgian Raphael Collignon in a tightly contested match, while Emma Raducanu showcased her form with a decisive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen. Raducanu expressed satisfaction with her performance, noting her ability to dictate play against a strong opponent.
However, not all British fans had reason to celebrate, as Jack Draper withdrew from the tournament due to injury.
