Carlos Alcaraz reveals respect for Evans after US Open ‘present’ as Federer feat eyed
Carlos Alcaraz confirmed his respect for Dan Evans after defeating the Brit 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3 in a thrilling three-hour match. Both males had been seen laughing and smiling in disbelief at a number of the factors they performed, and afterwards the world No 1 described the competition as a “show”. It means Alcaraz retains his US Open title defence alive, and the Spaniard is hoping to grow to be the primary man since Roger Federer to retain the crown in New York.
Alcaraz survived a check from Evans on Saturday as he booked his spot within the second week of the US Open. It marked the primary time this match that the world No 1 dropped a set because the 33-year-old made issues tough for him. And Alcaraz later stated that Evans’ recreation reminded him of his personal.
“He’s a tricky opponent, as you said. He always wants to go to the net, great slices, good touch. I think this is my game as well so it’s a pretty good match,” the two-time Major winner stated in his on-court interview. “I think when we play each other it’s a show on the court, I think people love that as well.
“We made nice factors, nice photographs, quite a lot of totally different form of conditions in all probability than the opposite matches. But actually, actually pleased to get by and have the ability to play a fourth spherical within the US Open.”
Alcaraz has a popularity for at all times smiling on the tennis court docket – something Coco Gauff praised earlier in this week – and it proved infectious as Evans was additionally having fun with himself within the warmth of battle on Saturday. “As I stated, we performed nice factors that made us smile,” the reigning champion explained.
“Dan as properly, so it’s nice to see that on a tennis court docket. Obviously we play to make the individuals pleased as properly, to entertain them and attempt to make the match enjoyable let’s say. But it’s nice to have that form of factors as properly and really feel the power that they [the crowd] loved that form of match as properly.”
Alcaraz is defending a Grand Slam title for the first time in his young career and has so far taken the pressure of being last year’s winner in his stride. No man has defended the US Open title since Federer in 2008 – when he won the tournament five years in a row. And the 20-year-old is hoping to emulate the Swiss star’s achievement.
The top seed continued: “Well after all I watch the draw and I see the opponents that I can play towards however clearly I’m centered day-to-day and clearly defending the title right here, it’s a aim for me. I’m searching for that.
“Obviously I know that nobody else defended the title here since Roger Federer so I would love to be part of the tournament history with Roger, defending the title. So this as I said is my main goal right now and I’m looking for that.”
With his eyes firmly on the prize, Alcaraz will subsequent face world No 61 Matteo Arnaldi after the Italian shocked sixteenth seed Cameron Norrie in straight units.