US OPEN. Men´s singles. By Gabriel Matteazzi
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Round of 16 at the US Open on Friday with a dominant 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Italy’s Luciano Darderi. The fourth and final Grand Slam of the season, played on the hard courts of New York, once again showcased the brilliance of the 21-year-old from Murcia.
On Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz made a statement from the start, holding serve with ease and immediately breaking Darderi to sprint ahead 3-0. The first set was a straightforward affair, sealed by Alcaraz in less than 30 minutes.
The second set followed a similar script. Alcaraz broke in the fourth game to go up 4-1, though Darderi managed a brief fightback, breaking back in the seventh and saving two break points in the eighth. At 5-4, Alcaraz required a medical timeout after feeling discomfort in his right knee while serving. But after the three-minute protocol, he sprinted back onto the court and immediately broke serve to close out the set 6-4.
In the third and final set, Alcaraz raised his level even further. He broke early, dictated the rallies with authority, and never looked back. Darderi had no answers to the Spaniard’s intensity, and in just one hour and 44 minutes, Alcaraz sealed the win with a flawless 6-0 scoreline.
Beyond the scoreboard, what stood out was Alcaraz’s technical superiority. His explosive groundstrokes, struck with extraordinary power from both wings, constantly pushed Darderi onto the defensive. At the same time, his defensive skills were equally impressive: on several occasions, he turned points around by sliding into deep corners, retrieving seemingly unreachable balls, and then transitioning seamlessly into offense. This ability to defend under pressure and instantly flip rallies into attack has become one of his trademarks, reminiscent of Rafael Nadal’s resilience combined with Novak Djokovic’s court coverage.
With this commanding victory, Alcaraz confirmed once again that he is not only one of the most powerful hitters on tour but also one of the most resourceful defenders—a lethal combination on hard courts.