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Carlos Alcaraz holds off Evans to reach U.S. Open 4th round

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame Britain’s Daniel Evans with a 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3 win on Saturday, surviving his first real challenge at the U.S. Open in the third round. The top-seeded Spaniard breezed through his opening matches at Flushing Meadows and at first appeared on track for another easy victory but had to find his best form after Evans mounted a third-set comeback. He next plays Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who shocked Britain’s 16th seed Cameron Norrie in straight sets on Court 17. The Associated Press has the story:

Carlos Alcaraz holds off Evans to reach U.S. Open 4th round

Newslooks- NEW YORK (AP)

Even if Carlos Alcaraz was by no means perfect during a victory in the U.S. Open’s third round on Saturday — he dropped a set, after all — the defending champion produced enough bits of brilliance to keep himself smiling and prompt his opponent, Dan Evans, to chuck his racket a couple of times.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, reacts during a match against Daniel Evans, of the United Kingdom, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Less than 12 hours after the man he’s expected to meet next weekend for the title, Novak Djokovic, needed to fashion a comeback from a two-set deficit to win, Alcaraz progressed to the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the third consecutive year by beating the 26th-seeded Evans 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Alcaraz, the No. 1 seed, showed off a variety of his considerable collection of skills, generating the sorts of highlights that both he and his fans have come to expect.

Daniel Evans, of the United Kingdom, reacts during a match against Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

“We play to make the people happy, as well, to entertain them and try to make the match fun,” said Alcaraz, who won his second Grand Slam title by edging Djokovic in the Wimbledon final in July. “It’s great to have those kind of points, as well, and to feel the energy that they enjoy.”

The 20-year-old from Spain is trying to become the first man to win two titles in a row in New York since Roger Federer took five straight from 2004-08.

“I would love to be part of tournament history with Roger,” Alcaraz said. “That’s my main goal right now and I’m looking for that.”

Madison Keys, of the United States, serves to Liudmila Samsanova, of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Next for Alcaraz is a matchup against Matteo Arnaldi, a 22-year-old from Italy who is ranked 61st. Arnaldi, who had won a grand total of one Grand Slam match before this tournament, reached the fourth round by eliminating No. 16 seed Cameron Norrie of Britain 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns a shot to Clara Burel, of France, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

In another early result Saturday, Jack Draper, a 21-year-old left-hander from Britain ranked 123rd, made the round of 16 at a major for the first time with a 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win over American wild-card entry Michael Mmoh.

Daria Kasatkina, of Russia, reacts during a match against Greet Minnen, of Belgium, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka — who has a chance to overtake Iga Swiatek at No. 1 in the rankings depending on their results the rest of the way at the U.S. Open — continued her smooth march through the bracket by defeating Clara Burel of France 6-1, 6-1.

Matteo Arnaldi, of Italy, returns a shot to Cameron Norrie, of Great Britain, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion in January, has dropped a total of just 12 games through three matches so far.

Sabalenka now takes on No. 13 Daria Kasatkina, a 2022 French Open semifinalist, who returns to the fourth round in New York for the first time in six years after getting past Greet Minnen of Belgium 6-3, 6-4.

No. 17 Madison Keys, the 2017 runner-up at Flushing Meadows, came back to defeat No. 14 Liudmila Samsonova 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, and will play No. 3 Jessica Pegula or No. 26 Elina Svitolina for a quarterfinal berth.

Jack Draper, of Great Britain, returns a shot to Michael Mmoh, of the United States, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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