Alcaraz overpowers Faria to reach US Open third round

NEW YORK, United States — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame an early wobble to book his place in the third round of the US Open on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) recovering from a set down to defeat Portugal's Jaime Faria in four sets.

Alcaraz, who is playing in New York after returning from a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, defeated his 72nd-ranked opponent 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 40 min at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Alcaraz, 23, will face China's Wu Yibing in the third round.

Faria had got off to a dream start, serving solidly and chasing down every ball to put Alcaraz under pressure.

Faria's persistence got its reward in the seventh game, claiming the first break of the match to go 4-3 up when Alcaraz flubbed a forehand.

The Portuguese held to love in the next game, sending down a booming ace to take a 5-3 lead.

Another strong service game saw him close out the set, holding easily with a blistering serve that Alcaraz could only flail at.

Yet after an impressive opening set, Faria's serve fell apart in the second while Alcaraz upped the tempo and began to find a telling extra zip in his groundstrokes.

Although Alcaraz had to save two break points in the opening game before holding, it was all one-way traffic thereafter.

Faria was broken three times as Alcaraz went through the gears to take control of the contest.

The Spaniard's momentum extended into the third set, with Faria broken again to go 2-0 down.

Faria hit back with a break of Alcaraz's serve to make it 2-1, but was soon back in trouble after being broken in the next game to trail 3-1.

The set went with serve thereafter as Alcaraz took a 2-1 lead.

Alcaraz went a double break up in the fourth to move into a 5-1 lead and served out to seal victory.