Alcaraz breezes through to last eight in US Open title defence
![Carlos Alcaraz’s attempt to defend the US Open title he won last year goes on as he beat Italian Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets at Flushing Meadows.](https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GettyImages-1659846160.jpg)
Carlos Alcaraz’s attempt to defend the US Open title he won last year goes on as he beat Italian Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets at Flushing Meadows.
The 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory in New York sends the Spaniard into the quarter-finals, and banks him a minimum cheque of $455,000 (£360,000) depending on his further progress.
If the 20-year-old were to go on and defend his title, he will snap up three grand slams before the age of 21 and win two in a row having beat Novak Djokovic in a pulsating final at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Alcaraz intensity
“[I had] the intensity from the beginning until the last ball, I played a really solid match with less mistakes,” Alcaraz said after the win. “I played my game and I am really happy with the performance. I am really happy I played well today.
“My favourite surface right now is the hard court but when I won Wimbledon I said I fell in love with the grass. I am comfortable with all three but I love the hard court.
“It is going to be a tough quarter-final.”
Elsewhere at the US Open Madison Keys came out on top in an all-American tie with third seed Jessica Pegula. The 29-year-old left the court in tears after her 6-1 6-3 fourth-round loss – she is yet to go beyond the last eight at a Grand Slam.
Keys impressed against her compatriot and earned a quarter-final tie against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
The Czech grass court winner toppled American Peyton Stearns on the Louis Armstrong Stadium in a deciding set.
Having gone down 7-6 in the first, Vondrousova rallied to take the second and third 6-3 6-2.
Today’s US Open play will see Coco Gauff take on Iga Swiatek’s conqueror Jelena Ostapenko while 10th seed Frances Tiafoe faces Ben Shelton.