China’s Wu, a former US Open boys’ champion whose pro trajectory has been disrupted by multiple injuries, pressured Alcaraz with his aggressive baseline game. Alcaraz, coming off a four-month injury absence, beat Wu 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 and joined women’s two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in reaching the round of 16. But despite moments of frustration Alcaraz rose to the challenge and will face 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals after Paul beat 15th-seeded Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-3.
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.
“His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it’s really difficult to control sometimes. Wu recovered an early break in each of the first two sets, but Alcaraz pocketed both with breaks in the final games and after saving a pair of break points in the first game of the third the Spaniard rolled home. “I’ve got into the rhythm of the competition. I’m getting there.”
“The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot — forehand, backhand,” Alcaraz said of Wu. “I think my level is really good,” he said.
The numbers didn’t tell the whole tale of a match that saw 92nd-ranked Rakhimova challenge Sabalenka in a second-set slugfest. Sabalenka, whose world number one ranking is under threat in New York, got off to a strong start, breaking Rakhimova in her first service game and holding her own serve with ease. Because she’s a fighter, “I’m super happy that I was able to close this match in straight sets.
“She played incredible tennis, she really pushed me so hard in the second set,” Sabalenka said.
