World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz punched his ticket to the U.S. Open’s final 16 on Saturday, whereas Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur etched a heartwarming narrative of resilience en path to victory in an exciting three-set showdown.
Alcaraz, on a quest to turn out to be the primary man since Roger Federer in 2008 to defend his U.S. Open title, summoned a flurry of magical photographs, leaving the gang at Arthur Ashe Stadium spellbound.
The 20-year-old Spaniard dispatched the Twenty sixth-seeded British challenger, Dan Evans, with a 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 triumph.
The encounter showcased Alcaraz’s mastery, significantly his thundering forehand that stored Evans on the again foot.
The stands roared in approval as Alcaraz executed a number of of his trademark forehand drop photographs with beautiful finesse.
But it was a single, logic-defying forehand that sealed the decisive break within the fourth set.
With a swish, curling stroke, Alcaraz despatched the ball skimming up the road, leaving Evans floundering and securing a 4-2 lead.
Even with the information that he’ll quickly relinquish his world No. 1 standing to the Serbian masterpiece Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz stays motivated by the dream of emulating Federer’s profitable title protection.
“Obviously defending the title is a goal for me,” he stated. “I am looking for that. Nobody has done it here since Roger, so I would love to be part of tournament history with him.”
Alcaraz’s victory units the stage for a probably electrifying rematch with Italy’s Jannik Sinner within the quarterfinals.
A yr in the past, these two titans engaged in an epic five-hour, five-set battle that concluded at an astounding 2:50 a.m., marking the newest end in U.S. Open historical past.
Sinner, the sixth seed, performed his half in preserving the anticipated rematch alive with a classy 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over the Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka.
In the identical breath, Matteo Arnaldi, Alcaraz’s subsequent adversary within the final 16, made his approach ahead by upsetting the Sixteenth-seeded Briton Cameron Norrie.
Arnaldi displayed beautiful prowess, profitable 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in just below two hours.
The 22-year-old Italian has solely not too long ago entered the principle draw of Grand Slam occasions, along with his greatest exhibiting till now being a quick second-round look at Roland Garros.
Jack Draper, one other member of the British contingent, achieved a historic milestone by reaching the final 16 of a Grand Slam for the primary time.
He secured this triumph with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over American world No. 89 Michael Mmoh.
Draper’s subsequent problem will come from eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev, a quarter-finalist ultimately yr’s U.S. Open, who triumphed over France’s Arthur Rinderknech with scores of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 U.S. Open champion and third seed, cruised into the final 16 with a late-night victory over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, closing the match with a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) scoreline.
Arguably, the day’s most riveting contest unfolded within the ladies’s draw, the place Tunisia’s fifth seed, Ons Jabeur, overcame the Czech No. 31 seed, Marie Bouzkova, in a marathon battle.
Jabeur, who had battled flu because the begin of the match, witnessed Bouzkova’s robust begin within the opening set however then witnessed a twist when her opponent sustained a thigh damage within the second set.
Bouzkova, regardless of her ache, valiantly soldiered on, permitting Jabeur to dig deep and safe a 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 victory that lasted 2 hours and 56 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court docket.
Jabeur’s inspiring journey continues, as she prepares to face China’s Zheng Qinwen within the final 16, fueled by her aspiration for a primary Grand Slam title after enduring agonizing defeats in three main finals over the previous two seasons.
In different charming showdowns on Saturday, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka maintained her imperious kind, ruthlessly dismantling France’s Clara Burel with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Sabalenka will confront Russia’s thirteenth seed, Daria Kasatkina, within the final 16.
Meanwhile, Madison Keys, the seventeenth seed, joined fellow American Coco Gauff within the final 16 by overcoming Russian 14th seed Liudmila Samsonova in a gripping 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 battle.
Keys now prepares to face compatriot and third seed Jessica Pegula, who displayed exceptional tenacity to outlast Ukraine’s Twenty sixth-ranked Elina Svitolina with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova wanted solely 56 minutes to dismantle Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova with a 6-2, 6-1 win, setting the stage for a conflict with US teenager Peyton Stearns within the subsequent spherical.
China’s Zheng, in one other spectacular show, secured a fourth-round berth by rallying to defeat Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, matching her greatest outcome at a Grand Slam.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
