The US Open is heating up! 🔥 Carlos Alcaraz just absolutely dominated his way into the fourth round, and Elena Rybakina wasn’t far behind with an impressive win. With Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka also in action, what other surprises are in store on the courts?
The intensity of the US Open reached a fever pitch as reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz effortlessly secured his spot in the fourth round, demonstrating formidable prowess on the hard courts. Joining him in advancement was the formidable Elena Rybakina, while fellow tennis titans Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka continued their determined quests for Grand Slam glory, promising more thrilling matchups in the tournament.
Alcaraz, the Spanish second seed and a crowd favorite, delivered a commanding performance against Italy’s 32nd seed Luciano Darderi. His straight-sets victory, culminating in a dominant 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 scoreline on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, showcased his exceptional skill and unwavering focus, leaving no doubt about his championship aspirations at the US Open.
This impressive one-hour and forty-four-minute triumph propels the 2022 US Open champion into a highly anticipated showdown on Sunday against France’s Arthur Rinderknech. Alcaraz, aiming to cap off a remarkable season that includes a French Open title in June and a Wimbledon final appearance last month, is keenly focused on adding another major title to his burgeoning collection.
Despite an early 11:30 AM start, which Alcaraz admitted challenged his non-morning person habits, he quickly found his rhythm. A brief medical timeout for his right knee during the second set caused momentary concern, but the young Spaniard swiftly reassured fans and media alike that there were no lingering injury worries, maintaining his powerful play.
Later on Friday, the legendary Novak Djokovic, a record five-time Grand Slam singles champion in New York, continued his pursuit of a historic 25th major title. The seventh-seeded Serbian faced Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the evening session, with fans eagerly anticipating a potential semi-final clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz, a matchup that would undoubtedly captivate the global tennis audience.
The men’s draw also saw other top seeds in action, including American sixth seed Ben Shelton, who competed against France’s Adrian Mannarino, and compatriot Frances Tiafoe, the 17th seed, battling Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka also demonstrated strong form, comfortably defeating Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to advance into the next round of this competitive tennis Grand Slam.
In the women’s competition, world number one Aryna Sabalenka, the defending women’s champion, commenced her match against Canada’s 31st seed Leylah Fernandez on the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Sabalenka is on a mission to become the first woman since the iconic Serena Williams to successfully defend her US Open title, adding an extra layer of historical significance to her campaign.
Meanwhile, in another significant development, Kazakh ninth seed Elena Rybakina delivered a masterclass performance, steamrolling Britain’s Emma Raducanu in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. Rybakina’s decisive victory ended Raducanu’s hopes of a repeat fairytale run, reminding all of the challenging and unpredictable nature of professional tennis and the high stakes at every turn of the US Open.
