NEW YORK (AFP) — World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to a US Open rematch with Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Thursday as Grand Slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova booked their places in the third round.
Defending champion Alcaraz eased into a Last 32 meeting with Britain’s Dan Evans after dispatching South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in two hours and 28 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.
It means Alcaraz is just two wins away from a potential quarterfinal collision with Italian sixth seed Sinner, who continued his serene progress through the draw with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.
Last year, Alcaraz and Sinner produced an epic five-set quarterfinal classic that was not completed until 2:50 a.m. local time — the latest ever finish in US Open history.
After their performances on Thursday, few would bet against a repeat of last year’s heavyweight slugfest in this year’s quarterfinals.
“I think I played a great match from the beginning to the last ball,” Alcaraz, who is bidding to become the first man to defend the US Open since 2008, said.
Roger Federer that year hoisted the trophy for a fifth straight year.
The 22-year-old Sinner, meanwhile, looks to be firing on all cylinders on the evidence of his second round performance.
The Italian conceded just 10 points on serve without giving Sonego a single break point throughout the two-hour, five-minute encounter.
Sinner will play 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round on Saturday. Wawrinka, 38, rolled back the years to eliminate Argentine No.30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-2.
Germany’s 12th seed Alexander Zverev booked his place in the third round with a 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Daniel Altmaier.
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, reached the third round with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2 defeat of Australia’s 69th-ranked Christopher O’Connell in a late night match.
Meanwhile, Britain’s 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
While Murray tumbled out, fellow Briton Jack Draper advanced to the third round, upsetting Polish 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 to set up a third round meeting with American wild card Michael Mmoh, who defeated John Isner 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (10/7) in what was the final game of the big-serving veteran’s career.
