Alcaraz takes another step forward by beating Wu at the US Open

Carlos Alcaraz added another win to his US Open campaign by defeating Yibing Wu 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 19 minutes. The scoreline suggested a comfortable victory, but the match was more closely contested than it appeared.

The win marked Alcaraz's third match since returning to competition. His opening match against Roman Safiullin was mainly about recovering his rhythm after 139 days away from singles play. Against Henrique Rocha Faria, he had to come back after losing the first set. Wu presented a different challenge, using early, aggressive shots to take time away from the Spaniard.

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I played aggressively and intelligently. Could I have played better? Yes, but I’m very happy.

Wu entered the third round without dropping a set. His world ranking of 113 did not fully reflect his level, since he had previously climbed as high as 54 before injuries disrupted his progress. The 26-year-old Chinese player is now trying to rebuild his career, and he had not offered a break point in his second-round match against James Duckworth.

Alcaraz struggled more in the second set, converting break opportunities less efficiently and becoming visibly frustrated. He kicked the towel box and shouted at his team after missed chances. He recovered in the deciding set, although he missed his first two match points, and closed out another test. “I played aggressively and intelligently. Could I have played better? Yes, but I’m very happy,” he said. Alcaraz will meet Tommy Paul in the last 16.

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Today was a fast-paced day, with every shot, forehand and backhand. His ball skids a lot and it is difficult for me to control it.