Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame an early wobble to book his place in the third round of the US Open, recovering from a set down to defeat Portugal's Jaime Faria in four sets. Alcaraz, who returned to New York after a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, defeated his 72nd-ranked opponent 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 40 min at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz will face China's Wu Yibing in the next round.
Faria started strong, serving solidly and chasing down every ball to put Alcaraz under pressure. The Portuguese player claimed the first break of the match in the seventh game, taking a 4-3 lead when Alcaraz flubbed a forehand. Faria held to love in the next game, sending down a booming ace to lead 5-3. He closed out the set with another strong service game.
However, Faria's serve faltered in the second set as Alcaraz upped the tempo and found extra zip in his groundstrokes. Although Alcaraz had to save two break points in the opening game, it was all one-way traffic thereafter. Faria was broken three times as Alcaraz took control of the contest.
The Spaniard's momentum extended into the third set, with Faria broken again to go 2-0 down. Faria hit back with a break of Alcaraz's serve to make it 2-1, but was soon back in trouble after being broken in the next game to trail 3-1. The set went with serve thereafter as Alcaraz took a 2-1 lead.
Alcaraz went a double break up in the fourth set to move into a 5-1 lead and served out to seal victory. The win marks Alcaraz's continued dominance at the US Open, showcasing his resilience and skill after returning from injury.
For Bangladeshi tennis fans, Alcaraz's performance is a reminder of the high level of competition and skill required to succeed in professional tennis. His journey back from injury also highlights the challenges athletes face in maintaining their form and fitness.
