Carlos Alcaraz will play in the last 16 at the US Open for the fourth time in the previous five years. World no. 2 faced Luciano Darderi in the third round and earned a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory in an hour and 44 minutes.
The Spaniard required a medical timeout on his right knee. However, it was nothing serious, and he sealed the deal with a strong performance in set number three.
The favorite outplayed his rival behind the first and second serve. He dropped serve once in the second set and turned 53% of the return points into seven breaks from 18opportunities.
The 2022 champion landed 31 winners and 12 unforced errors. Luciano stayed miles behind that pace, hitting 12 direct points and 24 mistakes. The Spaniard made a push on the return in the second game of the match and landed a forehand winner for an early break.
They served well in the next five games, with Carlos moving 5-2 up with a hold at love in game seven. World no. 2 secured a break at love in game eight after the rival's mistake, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 27 minutes.
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Alcaraz delivered a break in the fourth game of the second set on the fourth break opportunity. He saved a break point in the next one with a fine attack and held for 4-1.
Carlos played a loose service game at 4-2, netting a routine forehand and allowing his rival to pull the break back. The Italian saved two break points in the eighth game and locked the result at 4-4.
The Spaniard clinched the 11th game with an ace and stepped in on the return in the next one. He broke at 15 in game ten after Luciano's double fault, building two sets to love advantage after an hour and 18 minutes.
The favorite drew the rival's error in the second game of the third set with a sharp return, moving in front and holding at 15 in the next one for a 3-0 advantage. Alcaraz painted a forehand crosscourt return winner in game four to extend the lead.
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The Spaniard moved 5-0 up with a service winner and seized the fourth match point on the return in the next one, providing a bagel and moving into the last 16.
