Despite the call for medical help in the second set, former champion and second placed Carlos Alcaraz rushed the fourth round of the US Open in straight sets that only dropped six games.
I feel good, it was just a precautionary measure that I asked for the physio Carlos Alcaraz
He took Luciano Darderi from Italy 6-2 6-4 6-0 after a treatment on his right knee after he had shocked it during a serve when he led through a set and 4-1.
“I feel good, it was just a precautionary measure that I asked for the physio,” said Alcaraz when he was asked about the medical time out. “When he broke my serve, I felt something in the knee in the last point, but after five or six points it disappeared. I just asked the physio to take care of the knee, so I had to feel good. I am going to talk about it with my team, but I feel good.”
Carlos Alcaraz receives precautionary treatment in the second set
(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty images)
Alcaraz, who won his first big title on the US Open in 2022, remains on track to meet four -time winner Novak Djokovic in the semi -final. But first he has to deal with the Frenchman Arthur Rinder Knech, who beyond fellow countryman Benjamin Bonzi-Daniil Medvedev’s first round conquered 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.
During the use of his forehand, Alcaraz dominated to a major effect and contained Darderi who showed flashes of excellent play, especially when he broke the Spaniard in the second set.
“I just tried to stay awake, that was important,” explained Alcaraz. “Starting at 11.30 am is not a schedule that I am used to playing, so my first goal is to start well, to start focused on. I think I started very well, pushed him to the utmost, played long rallies, and then kept maintaining it.
“I’m not [morning] person. It is difficult for me to wake up in the morning, so that is a good thing today that I woke up early, I did the warming well, well played … it seems that I am a Spanish man! “
“I just don’t try to do the same things as last year. Trying to improve and do things much better. Every time I get on the field, I just get locked up since the first point to the last,” said Alcaraz. “Last year I take the motivation this year, [to] Be hungry, ambitious to do great things here.
“This is a place that I like to play. The energy is crazy, so I just try to feel and play the love and energy of the people much more like [many] Wet competitions like me, so that motivates me. ‘
And looking ahead to his Rinder Knech collision, he added: “He is really difficult to play against, really aggressive, big serve, trying to go to the net, so it will be very difficult,
“But as I said, I just try to be focused on myself, that I play great tennis, and I feel physically, mentally comfortable and just feel really good.
“I will only try to think about my goals, about myself, and let’s look, but it will be really interesting.”
With a tour, 57 wins and six titles in 2025 leads Alcaraz on the heels of bright rival Jannik Sinner for the number 1 place in the world ranking. The Spaniard could reclaim that position for the first time since September 2023 if he matches or enlarges the result of Sinner in New York.
Sinner, title defender and unbeaten at the Hardcourt Majors since 2023, is in the upper half of the draw and could only be confronted with Alcaraz in the champion match.
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