Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz was pushed to the absolute limit in a nerve-shredding second-round clash against Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Wednesday night.
The Spanish world number one eventually prevailed 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after a gruelling three-hour battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium, but not before facing a fierce challenge that threatened to derail his title defence.
Alcaraz appeared to be cruising toward a straightforward victory after claiming the first two sets with relative ease. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the third set as the 29th-seeded Etcheverry elevated his game to extraordinary levels.
The Argentine powerhouse began unleashing thunderous groundstrokes that left Alcaraz scrambling, breaking serve to claim the third set and sending shockwaves through the packed New York crowd.
'I think I played a great match,' a relieved Alcaraz confessed during his post-match interview. 'The third set was pretty tough. He stepped up his game and I made a few mistakes. I had to stay strong mentally and focus on playing my best tennis in the crucial moments.'
Fourth Set Tension Reaches Breaking Point
The fourth set developed into a tense war of attrition with both players holding serve until the critical ninth game. With the score locked at 4-4, Alcaraz summoned his champion's mentality when it mattered most.
The 20-year-old phenom produced a breathtaking display of power and precision to break Etcheverry's serve, before calmly serving out the match to avoid a potential fifth-set decider.
Alcaraz's victory sets up an intriguing third-round encounter against British number one Dan Evans, who comfortably advanced past Botic van de Zandschulp earlier in the day.
The defending champion will need to elevate his performance levels further if he hopes to continue his campaign to retain the trophy he won so spectacularly last year.
