Lethal Alcaraz sets the pace for leading seeds at USO

Carlos Alcaraz ran down Italian opposition to power into the US Open third round, with the second seed winning a 41st match from his last 43 with a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 hammering of Mattia Bellucci,.

The Spaniard now faces another Italian in Luciano Darderi as Alcaraz aims to reach his eighth consecutive tournament final.

“I played a really solid match today and set up some goals at the beginning of the match, which I think I did pretty well.

“Some things that I have to improve that I didn’t do as good as I wanted, but just in general, really happy,” the second seed said,

“I’m playing such great tennis tournament after tournament; I’m feeling that I’m able to perform really good, in every match. 

“Obviously I have my ups and downs.  I have matches that I don’t have or I don’t feel really good, but I’m just trying to survive those matches and to give myself
another opportunity in the next round.”

The five-time Grand Slam champion set the tone as he won the opening five games against Bellucci and produced his first love set since 2021 at the Open on his way to wrapping up business in straight sets.

The titlewinner from 2022 lost here in the second round a year ago  Alcaraz had 32 winners and never faced a break point.

“I played great, to be honest, since the beginning until the last ball. I know Mattia’s level, and today it wasn’t his day. But I tried to make the most of his mistakes, tried to be in the match, getting a good rhythm.”

Elsewhere, sixth seed Ben Shelton advanced over Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2, 6-4, to beat his fellow former Open semi-finalists.

Shelton, this month’s Toronto champion, is now into the third round for the ninth consecutive Grand Slam; he fired 42 winners against his Spanish opponent.

 “I was happy with the way that I played the big points tonight. Definitely wanted to get a little bit of sleep and not be here till 1 a.m.,” Shelton said after an 11 p.m. finish.

Shelton now goes against France’s Adrian Mannarino, who put out Australian Jordan Thompson 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3.

Women’s top seeded holder Aryna Sabalenka broke it open after a tight first set, to defeat  Polina Kudermetova, 7-6 (4), 6-2. 

Sabalenka was broken in the opening game but rescues it in a tiebreaker as she won her 19th decider of the season.

“The first set I was super tight, it was super aggressive,’’ Sabalenka said. “It was more about serve and the first shot. I was glad I was able to handle the pressure and give it back to her.’’

The top seed now plays 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez, a winner over France’s Elsa Jacquemot, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz winning second round match – by Mark Greenwood Grandslamtennis