Alcaraz into US Open last eight as Pegula, Jabeur crash out
Carlos Alcaraz surged into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday as upsets dominated the women’s draw with Ons Jabeur and Jessica Pegula becoming the latest highly ranked players to go crashing out.
Defending champion Alcaraz, who has only dropped one set on his journey into the last eight, produced a dominant display to overwhelm Italian world No.61 Matteo Arnaldi, winning 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 57min.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz is bidding to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2008 to successfully defend the US Open after winning the title for the first time last year.
The identity of the Spaniard’s quarter-final opponent will be confirmed later Monday, with Alcaraz due to face either Germany‘s Alexander Zverev or Italy‘s sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the last eight on Wednesday.
A match with Sinner would be a repeat of last year’s quarter-final classic between the two men, which set a record as the latest ever finish for a US Open game after wrapping up at 2.50am.
“I think the intensity from the beginning until the last ball, I played a really solid match, less mistakes,” Alcaraz said after Monday’s brisk victory.
“I’m really happy with the performance in general.”
In other men’s matches on Monday, eighth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev advanced with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Britain’s Jack Draper.
Rublev will face the winner of Monday’s later game between Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, or Australian 13th seed Alex de Minaur.
– Pegula sunk by friendly fire –
In the women’s draw meanwhile, more seeds bit the dust a day after world number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek was sent packing in the fourth round.
American third seed Jessica Pegula was routed in straight sets by compatriot and close friend Madison Keys, while Tunisia‘s fifth seed Jabeur — beaten in last year’s final — was ousted 6-2, 6-4 by China‘s Zheng Qinwen.
Pegula had gone into the US Open dreaming of a first ever Grand Slam, buoyed by victory in last month’s WTA 1000 Canadian Open.
But the 29-year-old’s campaign came to an abrupt halt in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium as 2017 US Open finalist Keys recorded a dominant 6-1, 6-3 win in just 61 minutes.
Pegula was left with no answer as Keys unleashed a stream of 21 winners to her six.
Keys also punished her friend’s shaky serve, breaking her five times on her way…
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Read More: Alcaraz into US Open last eight as Pegula, Jabeur crash out 2023-09-04 22:37:41
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