Carlos Alcaraz passes Lloyd Harris test to set up Dan Evans clash at US Open – ‘I stayed strong mentally’

Reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz earned a straight-sets win over Lloyd Harris to continue his title defence, but the Spaniard didn’t have it all his own way.

Alcaraz ran out a 6-3 6-1 7-6(4) winner in two hours and 28 minutes to set up a third-round tie against Great Britain’s Dan Evans.

While it was a routine scoreline in the end, the 20-year-old was put under pressure on serve by world No. 177 Harris and responded superbly by saving nine of 10 break points he faced.

Alcaraz cruised through the opening two sets but found himself a break down in the third before recovering to clinch it in a tie-break.

“I played a great match from the beginning of the match until the last ball,” Alcaraz said.

“If I have to pick out something I think I played a good second set without many mistakes and playing my game.”

Wimbledon champion Alcaraz is aiming to become the first player since Roger Federer from 2004-2008 to successfully defend the US Open crown.

Harris asked questions, landing six aces to Alcaraz’s four and matching him for break point opportunities, but the South African was unable to pinch a set off the superstar.

“I did have a bad game in the third set when I got broken and I had to forget it,” Alcaraz said.

“I stayed strong mentally and played a great return game to break back. It was very important for me to get another straight-sets win in the first rounds.”

Harris threatened early in set one by earning two break chances, but failed to take either and was punished when Alcaraz broke to 15 in game five for a 3-2 lead.

It proved to be the only breakthrough of a 44-minute opener, and Alcaraz subsequently blitzed his way through the second set.

The Spaniard again faced, and saved, a couple of break points in his opening service game, but a run of five straight games saw him blow away Harris and take the second in little over half an hour.

Set three proved to be by far the most competitive; Harris, who again had been unable to pounce on two break chances in game four, finally made his pressure count by breaking Alcaraz to love for a 4-2 lead.

But the Wimbledon champion produced a superb response, breaking back immediately before seeing off three break points on his way to a tricky hold to level up the set.

There was little to separate the players when it came to the tie-break, but Alcaraz produced the goods when it mattered by pinching a point on the Harris serve for a 5-4 lead before serving out his first match point.

Next up for Alcaraz is a battle with Washington champion Evans, who earned a 1-6 6-1 6-3 6-3 win over Botic van de Zandschulp.

“He’s a really tough player. Good serve and volley, good net game,” Alcaraz said about his next opponent.

“I will have to return very, very well if I want to win that match.”

Later in New York, third seed Daniil Medvedev progressed with a 6-2 6-2 6-7(8) 6-2 win over Christopher O’Connell that went on until the early hours.

The 2021 US Open champion sealed his win after 01:00 local time to set up a third-round tie against Sebastian Baez.