Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion at the US Open, expressed that he doesn't feel any extra pressure as he aims to defend his grand slam title for the first time. He comfortably advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Matteo Arnaldi.
Alcaraz, the world No. 1, emphasized his focus on his own game and playing at his best level, disregarding any additional pressure that comes with being the defending champion. He stressed that his main concern is maintaining his performance and not getting distracted by external expectations.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz has had a strong tournament so far, with several convincing victories. His next match in the quarter-finals is expected to be a significant challenge, facing either Jannik Sinner or Alexander Zverev, both of whom have defeated him in previous grand slam matches.
In the women's draw, Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova showed her resilience by coming from a set down to defeat Peyton Stearns 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-2, achieving her best result at the US Open. Despite the added weight of being a Wimbledon champion, Vondrousova has performed well, with a 9-2 record since her Wimbledon victory, including a quarter-final appearance in Cincinnati.
Vondrousova, seeded ninth, will face Madison Keys in the next round. Keys secured a significant win by defeating Jessica Pegula, the third seed, 6-1, 6-3, reaching her 10th career grand slam quarter-final.
However, it was an emotional day for Vondrousova, who struggled with a shoulder injury throughout the match and needed painkillers. She was also scheduled to play her third-round doubles match with Barbora Strycova, who is coming out of retirement following childbirth and is playing her final tournament at the US Open. Unfortunately, Vondrousova's shoulder injury forced her to retire from their doubles match, denying Strycova the opportunity to retire on court in her farewell tournament.