US Open 2023: Carlos Alcaraz confirms his place in the third round

Carlos Alcaraz, who recently won Wimbledon, defeated South African Lloyd Harris almost effortlessly 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in the second round of the US Open 2023 on Thursday night. Earlier, Alcaraz got a walkover in the first game.

Also Read: US Open 2023: The fourth and final Grand Slam tennis event of the season begins today; know where to watch

The fight to reach the US Open 2023 third round saw Alcaraz attacking forehand shots, sometimes playing defensively. The 20-year-old, Alcaraz, is the top seed in the US Open 2023. The Spanish star is the youngest seed in US Open history. After the match, Alcaraz said, "I think I played a great match. If I have to keep something from the match I'm going to keep the level from the second set."

In the first two sets, Alcaraz did not let the opponent stand. In the third set, Harris may have taken it a little lightly. The South African tennis player was leading 4-2 at that time. Alcaraz later took the set to a tiebreaker and won the match. "I had to forget that break (in the third set), I did such a bad game. I had to forget it and focus. To be able to win in straight sets is really important to me in the first rounds." Alcaraz added.

Alcaraz, who will lose the number one ranking to Novak Djokovic after the tournament, will take on Britain's 26th seed Dan Evans in the US Open 2023 last 32. Alcaraz is aiming to become the first man to defend the US Open crown since 2008, when Roger Federer hoisted the trophy for a fifth consecutive year.

Also Read: US Open 2023: Andy Murray wins 200th major matches; becomes ninth tennis player to do so

Andy Murray however failed to advance to the third round of the US Open 2023. The owner of three Grand Slams lost in straight sets against Grigor Dimitrov. The 36-year-old British tennis star, who won the US Open in 2012 took two hours and 46 minutes to defeat Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.