Alcaraz and Sabalenka Advance to US Open Third Round; American Players Shine

Carlos Alcaraz continued his strong form in his comeback from injury, while Aryna Sabalenka also booked her place in the third round of the US Open. Tournament organizers breathed a sigh of relief as they cleared the backlog of matches postponed due to rain.

2021 champion Daniil Medvedev overcame a rare disruption caused by birds on the court to progress. Four American players—Ben Shelton, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, and Frances Tiafoe—all recorded victories on the fourth day of play.

Alcaraz, the Spanish second seed, played the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He dropped the first set but then dominated Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, easing concerns about a wrist injury.

“I wanted to finish quickly, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz said after 2 hours and 40 minutes on court. “But in the end, I realized I only played four sets. That’s good to test my fitness and see how my body reacts after a long match.”

Sabalenka was even more impressive, defeating Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1. After the match, she expressed frustration when asked about her participation in pre-tournament events.

“You guys are funny. Parties, having fun… Why would you ask that? Why would you think that? What kind of question is that?” the world number one said. “Just because I posted some activities with a brand, you think I was out having fun and not practicing?”

American quartet advances

Medvedev, the 2021 champion, faced a peculiar incident when two birds perched on the net during his 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 win over Sebastian Gorzny on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

In the opening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Pegula needed just 56 minutes to dispatch Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, 6-3, 6-1. She will next face Leylah Fernandez, the 2021 runner-up.

“Finishing in under an hour, that doesn’t happen all the time. I’ll take that,” Pegula said.

Shelton, the eighth seed, had a tougher match, overcoming Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 with strong support from the home crowd.

The Montreal champion is seen as one of America’s leading hopes to end a 23-year men’s Grand Slam drought, especially with world number one Jannik Sinner absent due to injury.

Navarro defeated compatriot Caty McNally 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. Tiafoe got past Rei Sakamoto 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-5. However, not every American succeeded, as 2017 champion Sloane Stephens fell to 11th seed Marta Kostyuk 1-6, 5-7.

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova cruised past Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee 6-4, 6-2 in her bid for a second consecutive Grand Slam. Meanwhile, runner-up Karolina Muchova eased past Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-0.

After Tuesday’s rain-related postponements, organizers had to clear 14 pending matches as rain returned to Flushing Meadows in the afternoon, causing play to be suspended.

Bu Yunchaokete, a lucky loser from qualifying, surprised by defeating 12th seed Rafael Jodar to reach the second round. Alex Michelsen also caused an upset by eliminating American 16th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round. Australia’s Alex de Minaur, the sixth seed, cruised past Andrea Guerrieri 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in his opener.

Peru’s Ignacio Buse continued his family’s story at the US Open, earning his first win at the tournament after a five-set battle, following in the footsteps of his grandfather Eduardo, who won a match at the event in 1958.