Dan Evans ‘irritated’ by Carlos Alcaraz as Brit plots main US Open upset
Dan Evans grew to become the the fourth British participant to achieve the US Open third final evening – and his reward is to face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday. Katie Boulter, Jack Draper and Cam Norrie received via earlier whereas Andy Murray and Jodie Burrage went out.
And then British No.2 staged a late-night fightback on a packed Court 11 to beat large Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 1-6 6-1 6-3 6-3 to achieve the final 32 right here for the sixth time. To go additional, he’ll want an enormous upset towards the Wimbledon champion who remains to be formally ranked world No.1.
The Spaniard has received their earlier two conferences with out dropping a set, together with within the semi-finals at Barcelona in April.
“It’s a very difficult draw,” mentioned Evans. “It’s a little annoying to have him in the draw but it is what it is. It will be a good match. I am really looking forward to it and will play aggressively. There’s been a few upsets on that court before. I played a good match in Barcelona this year on his favourite surface and he played well obviously. I have some insight into how he will play.
“He will obviously be the overwhelming favourite. It’s a good opportunity to play a very good tennis player on a big stage. That is why you play tennis.”
Alcaraz, who is now 18-3 on hardcourts this season after beating Lloyd Harris in straight sets, said: “We played a few times. He’s a really tough player. Good serve and volley, good net game. It’s going to be really tough. I will play my best. I will have to return very, very well if I want to win that match. Let’s see how it’s going to be.”
The two performed golf together with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero and Andy Murray’s coach Jonny O’Mara over the summer time throughout Wimbledon. “Of course, his golf is much better than mine, that’s for sure,” mentioned the Spaniard. “But we could play a little bit before Wimbledon. We had such a great time at the course.”
Four British males – Murray, Norrie, Draper and Evans – reached the third spherical for the primary time within the Open period final yr. But that is the primary time 4 Brits have ever received this far at Flushing Meadows not together with the Scot.
Norrie secured his first back-to-back wins since Queen’s Club in June by beat Taiwanese qualifier Yu Hsiou Hsu 7-5 6-4 6-4. The British No.1 was shocked by American Christopher Eubanks within the second spherical of Wimbledon – after which misplaced three consecutive matches earlier than getting into the ultimate Grand Slam of the yr.
But after getting again to profitable methods within the first spherical, the No.16 seed He has nonetheless to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this yr regardless of dealing with 18 break factors towards the world No.237 and getting damaged 3 times. Norrie took his first match level after two hours and 28 minutes after Hsu despatched a backhand return lengthy.
“I was really happy with the way I played the big points and I am happy to be through,” mentioned the No.16 seed.
He will now face Italian world No.61 Matteo Arnaldi who’s making his US Open debut
Katie Boulter will likely be assured to crack the world’s prime 50 for the primary time if she good points revenge for a marathon defeat to American Peyton Stearns in February in Austin. “It was a brutal match,” she mentioned. “It was I think 3 hours and 25 minutes, I want to say.
“I’m expecting a lot. She’s a real talent. She’s a great player. The courts suit her a lot here. I know it’s going to be physical and I’m going to have to be ready and play some of my best tennis to beat her.”
Draper will face American wildcard Michael Mmoh.