World No. 2 Alcaraz Advances to US Open Round of 16 with Straight-Set Win

Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish tennis star and 2022 US Open champion, has advanced to the fourth round of the 2025 US Open after a dominant straight-sets victory over Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, with scores of 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Despite experiencing a brief knee issue that required a medical timeout, Alcaraz expressed no concerns and maintained strong physical condition for the match's final set. His commanding performance follows a rebound from last year's early exit, which he acknowledged was on his mind but has since used as motivation to improve. Alcaraz's next opponent will be Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated Benjamin Bonzi in the previous round. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam, remains on course for a potential semi-final clash with Alcaraz after overcoming Cameron Norrie. Defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, setting up a meeting with Leylah Fernandez as she pursues her first major title of the year.