US OPEN. by Gabriel Matteazzi
Spanish tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the US Open’s round of sixteen this Saturday after defeating the formidable Daniel Evans, ranked 28th in the world, in a hard-fought battle lasting three hours and eleven minutes. The final scoreline read 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in favor of Alcaraz.
In the upcoming round, the young Spaniard will face Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 61st, who caused an upset by dispatching Britain’s Cameron Norrie (16) in straight sets.
Alcaraz demonstrated his dominance over Evans in the first two sets, but the match took a challenging turn from the third set onwards, requiring Alcaraz to showcase his finest tennis skills to secure victory.
“He’s a tough opponent. I think when we play against each other, it’s always a show on the court with great rallies and shots,” Alcaraz commented. “We played some fantastic points that brought a smile to my face. And to Daniel’s as well. It’s great to see that on a tennis court. Obviously, we play to make people happy, to entertain them,” Alcaraz added.
Alcaraz is relishing the New York atmosphere, with its noise, spectacle, music, and festive ambiance among the crowd. This Saturday, he stepped onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium, the tournament’s central court, under the midday sun, and it already feels like home to him.
“In the fourth set, we were playing a great match. I was focused on giving my best, trying to break his serve as soon as possible. I wasn’t worried about whether I could win or not,” said the Spanish racquet after his triumph. “Blaming yourself doesn’t help much. I try to do it as little as possible, but I’m a player who needs to channel that anger from within in some way. What helps is talking to yourself positively. Encouraging yourself and believing that things will go well and that you can pull through,” Alcaraz added, discussing his motivational approach during matches.