Sawt Falasteen - Alcaraz crushes Bellucci to reach US Open third round

NYSE - LSE

RBGPF	3.61%	71.13	$
CMSD	0.38%	21.06	$
CMSC	0.6%	21.228	$
RYCEF	0.93%	20.44	$
GSK	-1.22%	51.78	$
AZN	0.44%	166.71	$
RIO	-0.48%	104.8	$
BCE	0.59%	23.85	$
RELX	1.32%	36.39	$
NGG	0.82%	80.42	$
BTI	0.88%	56.71	$
BCC	-0.28%	82.24	$
BP	-2.33%	43.74	$
VOD	0.13%	15.98	$
JRI	-0.08%	12.37	$

Alcaraz crushes Bellucci to reach US Open third round / Photo: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU - AFP

Alcaraz crushes Bellucci to reach US Open third round

SPORTS 28.08.2025

Carlos Alcaraz powered into the US Open third round on Wednesday with a commanding 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 win over Italy's Mattia Bellucci.

Text size:

The five-time Grand Slam champion proved much too strong for world number 65 Bellucci as he set up a last-32 tie with another Italian, Luciano Darderi.

"I played great to be honest from the beginning until the last ball," said Alcaraz.

"I know his (Bellucci's) level. Today wasn't his day and I tried to make the most of his mistakes."

"In general I'm just really happy with the performance," he added. "The less time I spend on court the better for me."

Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open champion, suffered a shock second-round loss at last year's tournament but any prospect of a repeat letdown was quickly dismissed by the Spanish second seed.

He won the first five games against Bellucci, the overmatched left-hander offering little resistance in the opening two sets against a player who now leads the ATP with 56 wins and six titles this season.

Alcaraz wrapped up his latest victory in an hour and 36 minutes to stay on a collision course with reigning champion and world number one Jannik Sinner.

The pair have combined to sweep the last seven majors and met in both the French Open and Wimbledon finals this year.

M.AbuKhalil--SF-PST

Sawt Falasteen - Alcaraz crushes Bellucci to reach US Open third round

Alcaraz crushes Bellucci to reach US Open third round

Featured

Real Madrid's Mourinho happy with squad despite losing out on Rodri

Sri Lanka slump to 216-7 at tea in second India Test

Spurs splash out £75 million for Man City's Savinho

India in command despite Sooriyabandara half-century