Alcaraz romps into US Open fourth round, Raducanu loses to Rybakina

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz overcame amid-match worry over his knee to swat aside Italy's Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-4 6-0 in the US Open third round on Friday, claiming his 80th Grand Slam win.

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The Spaniard has been on an extraordinary run, with a 42-2 record since April, and pushed on after taking a second-set medical timeout on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Alcaraz's one hour 44-minute victory sends the 2022 US Open champion into a meeting on Sunday against France’s Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Alcaraz is aiming to finish the season on a high after winning the French Open in June before losing in the final of Wimbledon last month.

The five-time Grand Slam singles champion opened Friday's play on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s main court, and admitted he had been nervous about his early 11.30am local time start.

"I'm not an early morning person so it's difficult for me to wake up in the morning," Alcaraz said. "One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.

"Starting at 11:30 my first goal is to start well with a good energy and rhythm. I played great tennis, good performance so I'm proud of that.