Carlos Alcaraz's brief knee problem
at the US Open doesn't slow him down in a win
[August 30, 2025]
By HOWARD FENDRICH
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz was cruising along in the U.S. Open's
third round, leading by a set and a break after taking 10 of the
first 14 games in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, when an awkward
step while striking a forehand caused an issue with his right knee.
The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz, who won the first of his five Grand Slam
titles at Flushing Meadows in 2022, got broken for the first time in
the tournament, then took a medical timeout and had his leg massaged
by a trainer. Problem solved: Alcaraz rolled through the rest of the
match, never dropping another game, and beat No. 32 Luciano Darderi
6-2, 6-4, 6-0.
It was the first, brief hint of any trouble for the 22-year-old
Alcaraz this week — well, other than the hair-cutting mistake by his
brother that led to a shaved head.
He didn't let teasing from Frances Tiafoe about that bother him, and
Alcaraz didn't seem too concerned about what went on with his knee
against Darderi, a 23-year-old Italian who was making his debut as a
seed at a major.
“I just felt something that was not working good in the knee, but
after five, six points, it was gone,” Alcaraz said, describing the
visit from the trainer as precautionary. “I'm going to talk with my
team, but I'm not worried about it.”
Other than that blip, his play was terrific in the 1-hour, 44-minute
match.

He delivered 31 winners to just 12 unforced errors and won 70 of the
105 points that lasted four shots or fewer.
“It's too bad that I ran into Carlos in the third round, because
right now it's impossible to play against Jannik (Sinner) or Carlos.
They are the two whose level is above everyone else's,” Darderi
said. “Everyone knew going into today that my chances were not the
highest.”
Alcaraz, who faces Arthur Rinderknech in the fourth round, improved
his career Grand Slam record to 80-13. Only Boris Becker, Bjorn Borg
and Rafael Nadal were younger — by a month or two — when they got
their 80th match win at majors.
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Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, shakes hands with Emma Raducanu, of
Great Britain, after winning their third-round match of the U.S.
Open tennis championships, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in New York. (AP
Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

What else happened Friday?
The 82nd-ranked Rinderknech reached the fourth round at a Slam for
the first time by defeating Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Bonzi
had won both of his first two matches in five sets, including in a
wild one against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who was
fined $42,500 by the tournament for his meltdown after play was
delayed when a photographer wandered onto the court. Emma Raducanu's
best run at Flushing Meadows since her 2021 trophy ended with a 6-1,
6-2 loss to No. 9 Elena Rybakina. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka
and 2024 runner-up Jessica Pegula advanced, while Taylor Townsend
upset No. 5 Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-2; and Barbora Krejcikova beat No.
10 Emma Navarro in three sets. No. 4 Taylor Fritz won a late match
but No. 6 Ben Shelton and No. 17 Frances Tiafoe were eliminated,
leaving just two American men remaining.
Who is on Saturday's schedule?
Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner are among the
players scheduled to play on Saturday as the third round wraps up.
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