Following a solid three-setter victory over World No. 76, Federico Coria achieved on Friday on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz prepares to meet for the first time at tour-level Atlanta Open runner-up Jenson Brooksby.
The 21-year-old powered past Western and Southern Open champion and 25th seed Borna Coric 6-4, 7-6(10), 6-1 on Friday, securing his place in the major’s third-round for the second consecutive year.
During his post-match press conference on Thursday, the California-born player spoke about his next opponent, Alcaraz, stating: “It’s definitely someone I have wanted to play. I’m going to bring in my best.
“I’m really excited to go out there, compete, and show what I can do.”
Last year, Brooksby became the youngest American to reach the Round of 16 in New York since 2002.
Also, in 2021, Alcaraz, already a five-time ATP titlist at the age of 19, made his debut at the U.S. Open, marching to the quarterfinals, forced to give his adversary, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, a walkover due to an injury.
This season, the Spanish sensation returns to Flushing Meadows, having captured four out of his five ATP career titles in 2022, including his maiden ATP Master 1000 crown in Miami, contested on the hard courts, as his first ATP 500 at the Rio Open, on the clay surface.
Both players are rising stars, representing a new generation of tennis players that, for the first time in history, see coaching from the stands allowed in a major.
Sports Pundit asked the El Palmar native to share his take on the subject during the press conference held after emerging victorious over Coria on Thursday.
In that regard, Alcaraz commented: “I think we have evolved in that aspect. I have always said, in all sports, the coach is allowed to talk to the players and give them instructions. I think it is good that the coach can talk to the player, as from the outside, one can see everything much better than from the inside. I think it is fine.”
In addition, he assessed his performance against the Argentine, outlining: “I’m very happy with my performance today. I think I played very well.
“I had to be really, really focused. [In a] Grand Slam, every minute on the court counts. You have to be very focused and show your best level. I think I did it today. I am happy with that.”
Currently ranked at World No. 4, the youngest men’s quarterfinalist at U.S. Open in the Open Era has leveled with Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas for the most tour-level wins (46) this season.
In his on-court interview, he said: “It has been a great year for me. I think I am playing very well.”
Adding: “I am so happy to be the player who now has the most victories in the year. But I have to look forward and stay the same player and go for it.
On Saturday, Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil will have to beat Brooksby, playing on home soil, to keep the chances of winning his maiden Grand Slam alive at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.