Carlos Alcaraz Advances US Open Round of 16 Despite Medical Timeout

Carlos Alcaraz displayed dominant form as he advanced to the fourth round of the 2025 US Open, defeating Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Despite a brief knee issue that required a medical timeout, Alcaraz showed no concern and quickly closed out the match, marking his 42nd win in 44 matches this season. He is now set to face France's Arthur Rinderknech in the next round, with hopes of reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz reflected on last year's early exit, describing it as a motivating factor that helped him improve his game. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, also progressed to the third round after overcoming a sluggish start against American qualifier Zachary Svajda. Defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her title defense with a win over Polina Kudermetova and will face Leylah Fernandez next.