Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the third round of the US Open with a blistering straight-sets victory on Wednesday as Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to advance.<\/p>\n
Alcaraz, who could meet Djokovic in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows if the draw follows the seedings, blew away Italy\u2019s Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 in just one hour 36 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium main court.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old Spanish second seed unfurled a stream of 32 winners in a dominant display against the 65th-ranked Bellucci, whose best performance in a Grand Slam came with a run to the third round at Wimbledon earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played great to be honest, from the beginning until the last ball,\u201d said Alcaraz, who will face another Italian, 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, in the next round.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe less time I spend on court the better for me, to go to bed early,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Serbian legend Djokovic kept his dream of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title alive after a four-set defeat of American qualifier Zachary Svajda.<\/p>\n
Djokovic though was forced to dig deep after losing the first set before claiming a 6-7 (5\/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win.<\/p>\n
Djokovic, 38, said that while not at his best, he is hoping to play himself into form as the tournament progresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m hoping, the deeper I go into the tournament the better I feel about my game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Djokovic\u2019s victory sees him into the third round at the US Open for a record-equalling 19th time, where he will face Britain\u2019s Cameron Norrie, who defeated Argentina\u2019s Francisco Comesana 7-6 (7\/5), 6-3, 6-7 (0\/7), 7-6 (7\/4).<\/p>\n
In other men\u2019s action on Wednesday, Norwegian 12th seed Casper Ruud, the 2022 US Open finalist, exited to Belgium\u2019s Raphael Collignon, losing 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.<\/p>\n
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz advanced safely, beating South Africa\u2019s Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6 (7\/3), 6-2, 6-4, while American compatriot Frances Tiafoe, seeded 17, also progressed with a four-set defeat of qualifier Martin Damm.<\/p>\n
Tiafoe won 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (8\/10), 7-5.<\/p>\n