Alcaraz, Sinner near US Open rematch

Sabalenka, Vondrousova advance

New York  – World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to a US Open rematch with Italy’s Jannik Sinner on Thursday as Grand Slam winners Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova booked their places in the third round.

Defending champion Alcaraz eased into a last 32 meeting with Britain’s Dan Evans after dispatching South Africa’s Lloyd Harris 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in 2hr 28min on the Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.

It means Alcaraz is just two wins away from a potential quarterfinal collision with Italian sixth seed Sinner, who continued his serene progress through the draw with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Lorenzo Sonego.

Last year, Alcaraz and Sinner produced an epic five-set quarterfinal classic that was not completed until 2:50 a.m. local time – the latest ever finish in US Open history.

After their performances on Thursday, few would bet against a repeat of last year’s heavyweight slugfest in this year’s quarterfinals.

“I think I played a great match from the beginning to the last ball,” said Alcaraz, who is bidding to become the first man to defend the US Open since 2008, when Roger Federer hoisted the trophy for a fifth straight year.

Sinner will play 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round on Saturday. Wawrinka, 38, rolled back the years to eliminate Argentine No. 30 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (7/9), 6-3, 6-2.

Germany’s 12th seed Alexander Zverev is also potentially lurking in Sinner’s path before a quarterfinal with Alcaraz.

Zverev booked his place in the third round with a 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat of compatriot Daniel Altmaier.

Also in Alcaraz’s side of the draw is 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, who reached the third round with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2 defeat of Australia’s 69th-ranked Christopher O’Connell in a late night match.

Medvedev looked to be heading for a comfortable straight sets win before a wobble – double-faulting on match point and set point – took it to a fourth set.

Medvedev will play Argentina’s Sebastian Baez for a Last 16 berth on Saturday.

Elsewhere Thursday, Britain’s 2012 US Open champion Andy Murray slumped to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 loss to Bulgarian 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

In the women’s draw, another Briton, Jodie Burrage, saw her tournament come to an end after a one-sided defeat to second seed Sabalenka of Belarus, the reigning Australian Open champion. Sabalenka prevailed, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour 14 minutes.

Sabalenka, 25, has reached the semifinals or better at the past four Grand Slams and can replace Iga Swiatek as world number one if she matches the Pole’s result in New York.

Vondrousova, who made history by becoming the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in July, had too much firepower for Italy’s Martina Trevisan, winning, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour 20 minutes.