Alcaraz Advances US Open Quarterfinals Targets Djokovic

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Arthur Rinderknech, maintaining his unbeaten run at this year's tournament. The 22-year-old Spaniard, a five-time Grand Slam champion and 2022 US Open winner, showcased aggressive and crowd-pleasing tennis, including trick shots practiced in training, which delighted the New York audience. Alcaraz, who tied Boris Becker for the most major quarterfinal appearances before age 23 in the Open era, will face Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka next, who reached his second Grand Slam quarterfinal after defeating Adrian Mannarino. Novak Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, is also progressing and is scheduled to play later Sunday, potentially setting up a high-profile semi-final with Alcaraz. Despite some knee treatment in the previous round, Alcaraz showed no signs of injury, emphasizing that the energy and atmosphere in New York suit his style of play. Alcaraz has now won 34 of his last 35 tour-level matches and remains a top contender for the title.