Carlos Alcaraz overcame an early setback to reach the third round of the US Open, beating Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday night.
The No. 2 seed dropped serve midway through the opening set but responded by winning eight straight games and taking control. After missing four months with a right wrist injury, Alcaraz said playing four sets was useful to test his fitness. “I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm,” he said.
The defending champion had not dropped a set before last year’s final, when he beat Jannik Sinner in four sets for his second US Open title. He won his seventh Grand Slam at this year’s Australian Open and is on a 16-match major winning streak. Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon because of injury. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, crushing Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes. The two-time defending champion is bidding for a third straight title.
Jessica Pegula beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-1 in 56 minutes. No. 8 seed Ben Shelton defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, while No. 7 Daniil Medvedev beat Sebastian Gorzny 6-3, 6-3, 7-5.AP