NEW YORK, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz ended Chinese player Wu Yibing's US Open run with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory in the men's singles third round on Friday, while women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the last 16.
Wu remained competitive through the first two sets, but Alcaraz repeatedly put his serve under pressure and converted seven of 15 break points. The Spaniard pulled away in the third set as Wu finished the match with 12 winners and 40 unforced errors.
"With the way that he plays, he has an unbelievable forehand and backhand, so the ball skips around a lot on court," Alcaraz said, praising Wu's ball-striking.
Wu admitted frustration with the opening sets, saying he lacked focus and a little luck on key points.
"Overall, he was at a higher level. He had the edge over me physically and in how he handled the key moments of the match," Wu said.
Wu, who also reached the US Open third round in 2022, was attempting to become the first Chinese man in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam fourth round.
The tournament is Alcaraz's first since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April with a right wrist injury. The 23-year-old said he is recovering well and regaining match rhythm.
He will next face American 20th seed Tommy Paul, who came from two sets to one down to defeat Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3.
Seventh seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat France's Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and will face 11th-seeded American Frances Tiafoe, who saw off Monaco's Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Stefanos Tsitsipas also recovered from a slow start to overcome Czech 18th seed Jiri Lehecka 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-1, reaching the US Open fourth round for the first time.
In the women's draw, defending champion Sabalenka defeated Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 6-4. She will next face American Taylor Townsend, who upset 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
Third seed Jessica Pegula rallied past Canada's Leylah Fernandez 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, while American 26th seed Emma Navarro knocked out seventh-seeded Czech Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5.
Sixth seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic beat American Ann Li 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-2, and 21st seed Anna Kalinskaya eliminated ninth seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
In women's doubles, 14th seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Maya Joint upset Serena and Venus Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (7), taking the deciding tiebreak 10-7.
China's seventh-seeded pair Jiang Xinyu and Zhang Shuai advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sofia Kenin of the United States and Anastasia Potapova.
On Saturday, China's Zheng Qinwen will face American 22nd seed Madison Keys for a place in the women's singles fourth round. ■
