US Open Title Defense
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slow start to reach US Open third round
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The match lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes, underscoring the lengthy battle as Alcaraz came back from a slow start to beat Faria in four sets.
2
Faria earned the first set by breaking in the seventh game after Alcaraz missed a forehand, as the Portuguese held serve to close out 6-4 in the opener.
3
In the second set, Alcaraz saved two break points in the opening game and then dominated, taking the set 6-0 with three breaks of Faria's serve to seize control of the match.
4
Alcaraz stressed the need to stay calm and focused, saying against a server of Jaime Faria's pace, he had to trust his game and stay present: 'Against someone like Jaime, who serves at 140-141 miles per hour every time, you have to try and be focused and calm. I told myself good things are going to happen. I just had to stay there all the time.'
5
Wu Yibing advanced to the US Open third round by defeating James Duckworth 7-5, 6-3, 6-1, setting up a clash with Alcaraz in the next round.
Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz bounced back from a first-set loss to beat Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 2 hours and 40 minutes, advancing to the third round Source 1. The seven-time Grand Slam winner is grinding back into form after missing over four months with a wrist injury, and his dominant three-set performance showed signs of his championship pedigree returning.
Alcaraz Steadies After Dropping Opening Set
Faria broke Alcaraz in the seventh game of the first set to steal it 6-4, attacking with a hard serve that topped 140 mph consistently Source 1. But Alcaraz refused to panic. In the second set's opening game, he saved two break points, then took control by breaking Faria three times to win 6-0 and flip the match's momentum completely Source 1.
Calm Mind Unlocks Aggressive Shot-Making
Alcaraz credited staying mentally focused as the key to turning the match around. "Against someone like Jaime, who serves at 140-141 miles per hour every time, you have to try and be focused and calm," he said Source 1. "I told myself good things are going to happen. I just had to stay there all the time." Once he slowed his rhythm and trusted his game, the Spaniard's aggressive shot-making took over, closing out sets three and four with commanding 6-3 and 6-2 scorelines.
Wu Yibing Awaits in Third-Round Clash
Alcaraz will face China's Wu Yibing next, who defeated James Duckworth 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round Source 1. The defending champion continues his bid to make Open Era history — if he wins the US Open, he would become the first man ever to defend a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces: hard court, clay, and grass Source 1.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
15
Articles
53
Reach
68
A
AnonymousAuthor
