As the match progressed, Alcaraz appeared increasingly comfortable, showcasing the versatile game that has established him as a crowd favorite in New York. The seven-time
Sabalenka advances as tournament landscape shifts
While Alcaraz navigated his opener, the tournament landscape saw significant movement following the shock first-round exit of Novak Djokovic on Sunday.
Sabalenka’s victory comes after a challenging lead-up to the tournament, which included fourth-round exits in both Toronto and Cincinnati, as well as at Wimbledon. Her quest to retain the No. 1 ranking remains under pressure, as Elena Rybakina could overtake her by reaching the semifinals. Sabalenka’s attire also drew attention, with the player clarifying that her choice of clothing was dictated by the schedule of day and night sessions.
Upsets and notable performances across the draw
The draw continued to see volatility as other high-profile players took to the court. Stefanos Tsitsipas, currently unseeded, secured a notable victory over the No. 10 seed Arthur Fils, winning 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas, who has previously reached the world No. 3 ranking, remains optimistic about regaining his top form. Meanwhile, Karolina Muchova demonstrated strong form with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win against Sinja Kraus. Conversely, the No. 28 seed Sara Bejlek, who had previously defeated Sabalenka in Cincinnati, was eliminated by Cristina Bucsa in a three-set encounter.
