By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, September 2, 2023
No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz smacked 61 winners defeating Dan Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 powering into the US Open fourth round for the third straight year.
Photo credit: Darren Carroll/USTA/US Open
NEW YORK—Rush hour propels fans to exhilarating places when Carlos Alcaraz is in passionate pursuit.
Stumbling near the sideline, Alcaraz regained his balance, sprinted to the opposite sideline and flicked a forehand pass down the line that splashed on the back of the baseline.
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That audacious Alcaraz strike sealed a break, sent Arthur Ashe Stadium fans leaping from their seats in excitement and left a disbelieving Dan Evans tossing his Wilson racquet aside in frustration.
Reigning US Open champion Alcaraz disarmed Evans with dazzle 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 powering into the US Open fourth round for the third straight year. Adventurous rallies oozing with variation left both men smiling at each other after some sequences.
We know about Wining Ugly; Alcaraz aims to Win Entertainingly.
"I think I'm playing a good level," Alcaraz said. "I'm feeling really, really well on court, really comfortable. I always say that I can be better, but right now I'm really, really happy with the level that I'm playing."
Seeing is believing.
Watching Alcaraz continue creating spirit-shattering magic on court, may well leave you believing the 20-year-old Spaniard can become the first man since five-time champion Roger Federer in 2008 to successfully defend the US Open.
“He’s tricky opponent; he always wants to go to the net, great slices and I think this suits my game as well,” Alcaraz said of Evans. “Pretty good match I think when we play each other. It’s a show on the court and people love that as well.
“We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kind of situations, but really really happy to get through and to be able to play a fourth round here at the US Open.”
It is the 10th consecutive Flushing Meadows win for Alcaraz, who improved his US Open record to 14-1. That mark equals John McEnroe and Lleyton Hewitt for best record by a main through his first three US Open main-draw appearances.
Wimbledon winner Alcaraz raised his 2023 record to an ATP-best 56-6, including a 19-3 mark on hard courts.
Despite dropping a set for the first time in the tournament, Alcaraz smacked some statement shots in a highly-entertaining shotmakers' duel.
Applying their all-court acumen and flair for finesse, Alcaraz and Evans dragged each other all over the court combining for 117 trips to net. Alcaraz won 45 of 57 trips to net and more than doubled Evans’ winner output (61 to 28) in a three hour, 11-minute victory.
“We play great points that made us smiling and Daniel as well so it’s great to see that on a tennis court,” Alcaraz said. “Obviously we play to make the people happy as well to entertain them and try to make fun the match.
“But it’s great to have that kind of point as well and to feel the energy that they are enjoying that kind of match as well.”
The heaviness of the Spaniard’s serve and twisting topspin forehand were too much for Evans in the first two sets. Alcaraz burst out to a 4-0 first-set lead and a 4-2 second-set advantage building a two-set lead.
Credit Birmingham-born Evans for refusing to yield.
The Washington, DC champion worked his slice backhand and proactive net play to pressure in the third set. Evans broke at 30 for a 4-3 third-set lead then staved off a couple of break points backing up the break for 5-3.
Though Alcaraz answered with some acrobatic play, including slamming a smash to save a fourth set point, the Spaniard poked a backhand long giving Evans a fifth set point. Washington, DC champion Evans thumped a slider serve down the middle to force a fourth set.
Two hours, 52 minutes into the match, Alcaraz stumbled flicking back a full stretched backhand, recovered his balance, bolted to the opposite sideline and scalded a superb forehand running pass that touched the edge of the baseline.
A stunned Evans tossed his Wilson racquet at net and stood with his hands on hips as Alcaraz broke for 4-2.
Afterward, Alcaraz said entertaining and winning are both priorities.
"I mean, obviously I want to win every match that I play, but at the same time, I want to have fun, trying different things, make the people enjoy watching tennis, watching my matches," Alcaraz said. "Sometimes I talk to myself about what is most important: If I win or doing great things. Obviously win the matches is always most important. But sometimes I talk about that."
Tagging a twisting topspin forehand winner down the line, Alcaraz screamed in triumph holding for 5-2.
Serving for the fourth round, Alcaraz lofted a rainbow lob that settled inside the baseline for match points at 40-love.
Alcaraz plastered a punishing crosscourt forehand to close in three hours, 11 minutes.
“Too good,” Evans said after wiping his sweaty palm on net before shaking heads.
“Vamos!” Alcaraz screamed after Evans handed a pair of sneakers to a fan courtside.
Next up for Alcaraz is a fourth-rounder vs. Matteo Arnaldi.
In his US Open debut, the 22-year-old Italian shocked 16th-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
World No. 61 Arnaldi is into a Grand Slam fourth round for the first time in his third Grand Slam main-draw appearance, fulfilling a pre-tournament wish: to get a shot at Alcaraz.
"When I saw the draw, that was my goal, to go and play against him," Arnaldi said. "But, you know, I never played against a World No. 1. It's just something crazy to think what I was at the start of the year and where I am now.
The Arnaldi approach to facing Alcaraz is simple: try to extend the world No. 1 for as long as possible.
"I don't want to say that we play very similar, but he's very physical, and I think I'm a bit physical," Arnaldi said. "I try to play as much as I can, to bring the match in the long distance.
"I think, I hope it's gonna be a good match, and really intense match, but you never know. I don't know where I will play, but I think I will play in Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong, and will be the first time for me. Also a bit of emotion at the start."