Carlos Alcaraz says he will need to be at the top of his next game in his next match at the US Open against 26th seed Dan Evans.
The defending champion secured a place in the third round after beating South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(4), in what was largely a straightforward encounter. Alcaraz saved nine out of 10 break points with the only time he dropped serve occurring midway through the third set. Despite that blip, he managed to break back and close out the match in straight sets.
“I think I played great, a great match,” said Alcaraz. “But obviously in the third set, he started to play better. I got down a little bit. I needed extra energy in the third set but I think that’s normal.’
“In a Grand Slam, matches are much longer. You need that extra energy.”
Alcaraz has won 55 out of 61 matches played so far this season and leads the tour with six titles to his name. His Grand Slam win rate currently stands at 83% which is the third-highest in history for a player under the age of 21 in the Open Era. Only Mats Wilander and Bjorn Borg have managed to achieve a higher record than that.
Awaiting the Spaniard in the last 32 in New York will be world No.28 Evans who won the biggest title of his career at the Citi Open last month. He currently leads their head-to-head 2-0 and is yet to drop a set against the Brit. However, Alcaraz is not underestimating the ability of his upcoming opponent.
“We have played a few times. He’s a really tough player,” he previewed. “Good serve and volley, good net game. It’s going to be tough. I will play my best. I will have to return very, very well if I want to win that match.”
Evans secured his place in the third round by fighting back to defeat former US Open quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. It is the sixth time in his career that he has reached this stage of the tournament but only once has he gone on to the fourth round which was in 2021.
“It’s a very difficult draw,” said Evans. “It’s a little annoying to have him in the draw but it is what it is. It will be a good match. I am really looking forward to it and will play aggressively. There’s been a few upsets on that court before. I played a good match in Barcelona this year on his favourite surface and he played well obviously. I have some insight into how he will play.’
“He will obviously be the overwhelming favourite. It’s a good opportunity to play a very good tennis player on a big stage. That is why you play tennis.”
Alcaraz will return to action at the US Open on Saturday.
