New York, 03 September (H.S.): Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz strengthened his comeback at the US Open after nearly five months on the sidelines due to a wrist injury. The Spaniard defeated Portugal’s Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to the third round.

Alcaraz, who had returned to action on Monday with a straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin after an absence of almost five months, was tested by Faria in the opening set. Faria, ranked 72nd in the world, broke Alcaraz’s serve to move 4-3 ahead and held firm with his powerful serving to take the first set 6-4.

Faria continued to apply pressure at the beginning of the second set, earning two break-point opportunities against Alcaraz. However, the Spaniard raised the tempo of his game at the crucial moment. He thrilled the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with a spectacular combination of drop shots and lobs before racing through the second set 6-0 to level the match.

In the third set, the seven-time Grand Slam champion kept Faria under sustained pressure with his outstanding shot-making. The 23-year-old Spaniard gradually tightened his grip on the contest and moved ahead.

Alcaraz capitalised fully on Faria’s declining effectiveness on serve in the fourth set, breaking down his resistance to win it 6-2 and seal the match.

Alcaraz will now face China’s Wu Yibing in the third round.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar