The concern over Alcaraz's injury was short-lived. Despite experiencing discomfort in his right knee at the end of the second set with the score at 5-4, he played impressively and easily defeated Luciano Darderi in under two hours.

Three minutes of treatment from a physiotherapist seemed to revitalize the world number two, as he didn't lose another game. "I felt a little discomfort in my knee in the game Darderi broke my serve, but after about 5 or 6 points, the pain disappeared. I feel fine and not at all worried about the next matches," Alcaraz reassured fans, looking ahead to the fourth round.

Alcaraz receives medical attention for his right knee during his 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Darderi in the third round of the US Open on 29/8/2025 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York, USA. _Photo: AP_

Since early 2024, Alcaraz has dominated Italian players. He has only lost once to Jannik Sinner, winning all 20 other matches. At this year's US Open, Luciano Darderi is the second Italian player eliminated by Alcaraz, following Mattia Bellucci, who only managed 4 games in the previous round.

In his first three matches, Alcaraz has spent less than 6 hours on court, averaging 1 hour and 48 minutes per match, conserving energy for future challenges. Apart from a slight struggle against American Reilly Opelka in the second set of his opening match, Alcaraz has been comfortable and relaxed, winning games without exerting himself fully. He even appeared to be treating the matches like practice sessions.

Alcaraz returning a shot. _Photo: AP_

Darderi, 23, spoke mid-week about his admiration for Lionel Messi. However, he couldn't find any inspiration from the Argentinian soccer superstar to counter Alcaraz's steady pace and powerful forehands. Towards the end of the match, Darderi experienced physical issues, requiring a physiotherapist for a thigh injury before losing his final service game.

Ranked 34th in the world, the Italian was not, on paper, a weak opponent. However, like Bellucci, he played a supporting role. While their game might not be poor, they faltered as the pace intensified. Darderi only won two points on return in the first set, which proved to be merely an appetizer for Alcaraz.

Darderi expresses disappointment after losing a point to Alcaraz. _Photo: AP_

As the match concluded, Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved" played at Arthur Ashe Stadium, marking Alcaraz's achievement as the fifth player in history to reach 80 Grand Slam match wins, 20 of them in New York, before turning 23. He joins legends like Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg, Rafael Nadal, and Mats Wilander.

This was also the first time at Flushing Meadows that Alcaraz played in the earliest time slot, something he found challenging. "My goal today was to wake up on time and get on the court. This was my first match at 11:30 a.m. New York time, and I haven't gotten used to it yet. Just waking up in the morning is a very difficult task for me," he said after the match.

Day or night, Alcaraz is progressing steadily, ready to face 30-year-old Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, ranked 82nd in the world, who defeated Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Hoang Thong