Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the U.S. Open third round with a 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Lloyd Harris. While Alcaraz displayed dazzling shot-making and entertained the crowd, the match also highlighted some worrying flaws in his performance.
The world number one committed 29 unforced errors and showed a lack of concentration at crucial moments. Despite not being at his best, Alcaraz relied on his raw talent and wide range of shots to defeat the 177th ranked South African, Lloyd Harris. However, to successfully defend his U.S. Open crown and compete with rivals like Novak Djokovic, Alcaraz will need to improve his game.
Alcaraz acknowledged his letdown in the third set but focused on the positives after the match, describing his effort as “great” and expressing his intent to maintain a high level of play.
In the lead-up to the U.S. Open, Alcaraz’s performances were inconsistent, with several matches requiring three sets and tiebreaks. His opening match against Dominic Koepfer was cut short due to Koepfer’s ankle injury.
In the next round, Alcaraz will face 26th seed Dan Evans, whom he described as a tough opponent with a strong serve and net game. Alcaraz recognizes the need to return effectively to secure a victory in the upcoming match.
