US Open PIX: Error-prone Alcaraz into third round; Murray out

IMAGES from matches on Day 4 of the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows in New York on Thursday.

Carlos Alcaraz moved into the US Open third round on Thursday with an entertaining 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over Lloyd Harris in a match that also revealed a lack of sharpness which the Spaniard will need to rectify if he is to successfully defend his crown.

Some dazzling shot making from the world number one had the crowd on its feet but behind the fun-filled evening were some worrying flaws as Alcaraz piled up 29 unforced errors and showed a lack of concentration at key moments.

Even while not at his best Alcaraz could rely on raw talent and a vast repertoire of shots to see off the 177th ranked South African. But the 20-year-old will need to improve with rival Novak Djokovic on the prowl for a 24th Grand Slam and seeking revenge for his Wimbledon loss to the Spaniard.

After the match Alcaraz focused on the positives, rating his effort as "great" but admitting to a letdown in the third set.

"I think I played great, a great match," assessed the Spaniard. "But obviously in the third set he started to play better. I got down a little bit.

"I need extra energy in the third set.

"In the end, I think I played a pretty good match and will try to keep the same level."

Under Arthur Ashe Stadium's bright lights Alcaraz found himself under even greater scrutiny after an unconvincing build-up to the season's final Grand Slam.

In two tune-up events his results -- reaching the Canadian Open quarter-finals and losing to Djokovic in the Cincinnati final -- were positive but the performances spotty with seven of eight matches needing three sets to get the job done.

Of the 23 sets played eight required tiebreaks.

There was little to learn from Alcaraz's opening match on Tuesday against Dominic Koepfer, which was cut short when the German retired with an ankle injury.

Harris is recovering from wrist surgery and has seen his ranking drop but the big-hitting South African is a proven danger man, reaching the quarter-finals in 2021 and having a few top 10 wins on his resume, including one over Rafael Nadal.

The contest got off to a cautious start before Alcaraz began to settle into the match, taking control of the first set with a break to go up 3-2.

From that point on he dialled up the pressure and clinched the set with a second break.

Alcaraz continued to dominate in the second but lost focus in the third, committing 16 of his 29 unforced errors, as Harris threatened to take the contest to a fourth set before losing the tie-break 7-4.

There will be no room for such lapses in third round for Alcaraz with 26th seed Dan Evans waiting in the wings.

"It's a really tough player, good serve and volley, good net game," said Alcaraz. "It's going to be really tough.

"I will have to return very, very well if I want to win that match."

'Warrior' Jabeur battles past Noskova to reach third round

Last year's runner-up Ons Jabeur was made to work hard by Czech teenager Linda Noskova before sealing a thrilling 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3 victory to reach the third round of the US Open on Thursday.

The Tunisian fifth seed, who is seeking a maiden Grand Slam title, edged a tight opening set before 18-year-old Noskova stepped up the pressure in the second.

Noskova had won their only previous meeting in the Adelaide semi-finals earlier this year and breezed to a 5-1 lead before Jabeur came storming back by winning three quick games.

Jabeur, who was dogged by breathing difficulties and other issues in her last match, took a tumble chasing a low shot at the net and appeared shaken up briefly as the big-hitting Noskova held her serve to level the match.

The Tunisian said she was still not at 100% but added that playing in the night session had helped her.

"But yeah, I'm taking it slow," Jabeur said. "Not really slow in this match, but I have one day off and hopefully I'll feel better after tomorrow.

"It's tricky to feel sick during a tournament so we manage with the team. Let's see what's going to happen."

Jabeur saved a break point to go 2-1 up and eventually took charge of a tense decider in the eighth game before closing out the win on her fourth match point, setting up a meeting with another Czech, Marie Bouzkova.

"I tried to stay calm and obviously the crowd didn't give up. So thank you so much," Jabeur told the fans at Grandstand.

"This is a very special tournament. I think I'm going to use 'warrior' as a symbol for this tournament to continue until the end."

Dimitrov takes out Murray

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov crushed Briton Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 on Thursday to reach the U.S. Open third round as an early battle unravelled into a lop-sided match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray, playing some of his best tennis in years recently, could not match Dimitrov's firepower as he struck 16 winners compared to 32 from the 19th seed.

Dimitrov will next face German Alexander Zverev, who beat his compatriot Daniel Altmaier 7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Murray, 36, made a slow start as Dimitrov broke him to love in the second game but showed resolve when he broke back at the third attempt in an epic 16-minute game.

Dimitrov, however, broke Murray to love in the eighth game and again with a well-placed forehand winner in the opening game of the second set.

Murray, US Open champion in 2012, trailed by a break in the third set when Dimitrov saved two break points and the Bulgarian broke again to close on victory which he secured when his opponent double faulted.

Sabalenka powers into third round

Aryna Sabalenka, with her sights firmly set on a second Grand Slam title and the world number one ranking, powered into the US Open third round with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over Britain's Jodie Burrage on Thursday.

The Australian Open champion converted three of her four break point opportunities and saved the two break points she faced during the 74-minute match in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Sabalenka, who can claim the top ranking for the first time if she advances one round further than Iga Swiatek in New York, used a steady stream of power from the backhand and forehand sides to overwhelm world number 96 Burrage.

The Belarusian second seed consolidated an early break for a 3-0 lead and while Burrage responded with holds to love on her next two service games Sabalenka leaned on her own serve to seal the opening set.

Sabalenka was barely tested in the second set where she hit a forehand winner to go up a double break before closing it out with a hold to love.

Up next for Sabalenka will be a clash against Frenchwoman Clara Burel, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Czech 25th seed Karolina Pliskova.

Svitolina outplays Pavlyuchenkova to advance

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina came from behind to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a high-quality match on Thursday to reach the US Open third round.

Svitolina sent down her 10th ace on match point to end the nearly three-hour clash to the delight of the supportive crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Svitolina returned in April following the birth of her daughter with fellow tennis player Gael Monfils and said she drew inspiration from her husband, who was playing his second-round match at the same time.

"I tried to get a little motivation from him," she said in an on-court interview.

"I know he is playing out there and I needed to change my head a little bit because I was not playing my best. I had to bring different energy and I was thinking about him a little bit."

Svitolina improved to 11-2 at Grand Slams this season after the 28-year-old made the Wimbledon semi-finals and the French Open quarter-finals.

She has produced consistent performances despite the turmoil caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and did not shake the hand of her Russian opponent after the match.

Pegula crushes Tig to set up Svitolina showdown

Jessica Pegula crushed Patricia Maria Tig 6-3, 6-1 at the US Open on Thursday to set up an enticing third-round clash with Elina Svitolina.

The clean ball-striking of the top-ranked American was more than the world number 700 from Romania could handle in a match that lasted just over an hour.

Pegula, seeded third, never trailed in a contest where she won 80% of her first serve points and broke Tig's serve six times.

Next up for the Buffalo native is Ukrainian Svitolina, who came from behind to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia earlier in the day.

Pegula edged Svitolina in a three-set battle in Washington D.C. earlier this month and holds a 3-1 advantage in their career meetings.

"Every single match we play is just a really good battle," Pegula said.

"I feel like we play to each other's games where we make each other play better and we always have really great matches."

Svitolina returned in April following the birth of her daughter and Pegula said she had already got back to top form.

"It's great to see her back, playing at such a high level so quickly. I just played her a few weeks ago so it's going to be very tough," she said.

Pegula took Arthur Ashe Stadium court after defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz won his second-round match and said she is starting to feel comfortable on the sport's biggest stage.

"I never thought that I would be getting used to Ashe, but somehow I am," she said.

"But it's hard to follow Carlos. It's a tough act to follow, man."

Kasatkina roars back to defeat Kenin in New York

Russian Daria Kasatkina battled back to defeat American Sofia Kenin 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the third round of the US Open on Thursday.

The 13th seed looked to be heading out of the tournament after Kenin cruised through the first set and took a 3-1 lead in the second.

But she settled in from there, breaking Kenin for 3-3 and again to level the contest at a set apiece.

Kenin, a former Grand Slam champion now ranked number 101 in the world, broke in the opening game of the decider but was broken right back in a match that featured 14 total breaks of serve.

Kasatkina and Kenin have now split their four career meetings.

Draper beats Hurkacz

English player Jack Draper sealed the second round with a straight-set win against World No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday at the US Open.

In Winston-Salem last week, the Draper withdrew in the second round of his first tournament back on the Tour after missing three months due to a shoulder injury.

The 21-year-old clinched victory against Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.

"I feel physically good. I haven't had match exposure for a long time, so I'm still sort of managing my body," Draper said after the match as quoted by ATP's official website.

Draper said that he still feels a little bit sore, however, he will do his best as it is the Grand Slam title.

"Still getting a little bit sore. Obviously, it's a Grand Slam, as well. You have to push your body and know that if you need to go four or five sets, you need to be ready. And I was today. I feel good," he further said.

"With regards to my shoulder, I'm kind of looking after it each day. It was a bit sore after my last match but when the adrenaline kicks in and obviously playing the US Open, so, you know, just put it out of my mind and go out and try my best to play the tennis I want to," the Englishman added.