US Open 2023 – Untouchable, Carlos Alcaraz qualifies in three sets for the quarterfinals against Matteo Arnaldi

Thanks to his undeniable talent, the Prince of New York did the job on the Arthur-Ashe court. In his round of 16 against Matteo Arnaldi, Carlos Alcaraz took 1h57 to qualify brilliantly after three controlled sets (6-3, 6-3, 6-4). Faced with a tennis player qualified for the first time at this stage of the competition, the world number one played a serious and complete match to claim a little more of his own succession during this Grand Slam tournament. In the quarter-finals, Alcaraz will cross swords with the winner of the duel between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

The Alcaraz clan can be reassured: Carlitos is in great shape before starting the serious things at Flushing Meadows. For his first meeting in this second week in New York, the Spaniard did not experience any physical breakdown against an opponent to be wary of. Author of a remarkable performance in the third round with a success in three rounds against Cameron Norrie, Matteo Arnaldi had the label of a probable unpleasant surprise for the defending champion. But facing the 22-year-old Italian, the Murcian activated the Martian mode.

Undoubtedly annoyed by the fact of having conceded a set to Daniel Evans during the previous round, Alcaraz wanted to benefit directly from his experience against an opponent ready to experience his first on American center court. However, Arnaldi felt comfortable not conceding any break points in his first two service games. From then on, Alcaraz had to step up a gear to get three in the sixth game of the first set and prevail. In 30 minutes, the first set was in the pocket of the Iberian (6-3).

Launched on a positive dynamic, Alcaraz could have been patient at the start of the second round, but it is not really the policy of the house. Thanks to a break acquired from the first game of the set, the Spanish TGV led the proceedings to lead two sets to nothing, in 1h13 (6-3). The icing on the cake: Alcaraz was able to start the third and final set on his serve to make his job easier. But it was just when everything seemed to be going for the best that a small drop in speed happened.

Broken to find themselves trailing 2-1, the defending champion reacted tit for tat to equalize at 2-2 and regain command of operations. Under pressure when serving at 5-4, Arnaldi did not hold and Alcaraz finished the job with a white break (6-4). After 2021 and 2022, Alcaraz is in the quarterfinals at the US Open. In the Open era, only Johan Kriek had achieved this performance. But unlike the world number one, the South African did not win the tournament on his second attempt…