Carlos Alcaraz storms into US Open 3rd round after beating Jamie Faria (ANI Image) The further Carlos Alcaraz progresses at the US Open, the more his serve will come under scrutiny. The 23-year-old, returning from a wrist injury that kept him off the Tour for four months, is going full tilt for the most part, except on serve. The difference was particularly evident against world No. 72 Jaime Faria, as Alcaraz rallied from a set down in a night match on Arthur Ashe to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.Alcaraz’s first and second serves averaged 185 and 156 kmph, well below what his opponent produced, but he was not short on steel. The defending champion saved five of the seven break points he faced.“The night session is totally different from the day session. The ball feels bigger, it’s tougher to move it around,” said Alcaraz, whose forehand was electric. “I had a break point (sixth game, first set). I didn’t make it. I just wanted to play short points, which was a mistake, I needed to play with passion, to play long rallies, three, four, five shots, and then go for it. But I kind of built the point from the first shot. I didn’t make it. That’s why he got the break.”“After that, I realized what I had to do. I got an early break, which helped me a lot to play with more calm, and then I’m thinking more clear about everything.”Alcaraz plays China’s Wu Yibing in the third round on Friday.Earlier, lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete handed 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, the world No. 13, his worst defeat of the season, winning 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in an opening-round clash rescheduled from Tuesday because of rain.The Spaniard, who jumped from outside the top 100 to the brink of the top 10, looked a pale shadow of himself.“He played better than me, so he deserved to win today,” Jodar said, refusing to dwell on his physical condition. “I tried to give my best today. I have had a good season overall, it’s going to take some time to recover and to think about this tournament and what I could learn from that.”
