NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz was gliding through the third round of the U.S. Open, commanding a lead with a set and a break after dominating 10 of the initial 14 games in the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. However, an unexpected misstep while executing a forehand caused a slight issue with his right knee.
The second-seeded Alcaraz, who clinched his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, faced his first break of the tournament but quickly called for a medical timeout. A trainer attended to his leg, and all seemed to be back to normal: Alcaraz surged through the remainder of the match, securing a victory over No. 32 Luciano Darderi with scores of 6-2, 6-4, 6-0, without losing another game.
This was the first sign of any potential trouble for the 22-year-old Alcaraz during the tournament—aside from a comical haircut mishap inflicted by his brother that left him sporting a shaved head.
Despite some light-hearted teasing from Frances Tiafoe, Alcaraz appeared unbothered by both his knee troubles and the haircut incident. He remained unfazed against the 23-year-old Darderi, who was competing as a seeded player in his Grand Slam debut.
“I felt something odd in my knee, but after five or six points, it cleared up,” Alcaraz explained, characterizing the trainer’s visit as a precaution. “I’ll discuss it with my team, but there’s no cause for concern.”
Other than that brief distraction, Alcaraz delivered an impressive performance throughout the 1-hour, 44-minute match.
He struck 31 winners against only 12 unforced errors and dominated 70 out of 105 points during exchanges of four shots or fewer.
“It’s unfortunate I ran into Carlos in the third round; right now, it’s near impossible to compete against either Jannik (Sinner) or Carlos. Their level is simply unmatched,” Darderi remarked. “Everyone was aware going into today that my chances were slim.”
Alcaraz, set to clash with Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, improved his Grand Slam record to an impressive 80-13. He joins an elite club, becoming one of the youngest to achieve 80 tournament wins at majors, alongside legends like Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, and Rafael Nadal.
What other highlights emerged from Friday’s action at the U.S. Open?
Ranked 82nd, Rinderknech reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time after defeating Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Bonzi, who had survived two prior matches in five sets—including a thrilling contest against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev—was fined $42,500 for his outburst after play was delayed by a photographer’s misstep. Emma Raducanu’s journey at Flushing Meadows came to an end with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat by No. 9 Elena Rybakina.
Who’s set to compete on Saturday at the U.S. Open?
Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, and Jannik Sinner are among the stars slated to take the court on Saturday as the third round concludes.
