Carlos Alcaraz has been a force to reckon with at this year's US Open, cruising through the tournament without dropping a single set, including a commanding victory over Luciano Darderi.

The Spaniard, a former US Open champion who claimed the title in 2022, surprisingly fell in the second round last year. However, following his success at the Cincinnati Open, many—including tennis legend Martina Navratilova—are placing their bets on Alcaraz for another title run.

Despite undergoing medical treatment during his last match, Alcaraz powered through to the fourth round, demonstrating he remains a top contender for the championship.

Who Can Beat Alcaraz?

Marion Bartoli, the former Wimbledon champion, believes only two players have the potential to defeat Alcaraz this year: Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

In a discussion on Sky Sports, Bartoli remarked, "Honestly, how many players can genuinely challenge Carlos Alcaraz when he's playing at his peak? On a great day, it's incredibly tough to knock him off his game. Besides Sinner, maybe Djokovic has a slight edge based on their recent encounters."

With Sinner boasting a competitive record against Alcaraz and Djokovic presenting formidable skills and experience, these two stand out as the biggest threats.

Challenges Ahead for Alcaraz

Tim Henman, a former world number four, shared insights on the unique challenges Alcaraz faced against Darderi, particularly due to the unusual morning match time.

He commented, "Starting at 11:30 a.m. posed its own hurdles. Alcaraz had to ensure he was mentally prepared, a challenge these elite players don't often encounter." Alcaraz himself noted the oddity of waking up so early for a match.

Reflecting on the experience, Alcaraz admitted, "I usually sleep around 11:00 PM, so waking up at 7:00 AM was strange for me! But in the end, it’s nice to finish my match early and move on."

Looking Ahead

As Alcaraz prepares for his next match against French player Arthur Rinderknech, he will look to maintain his winning streak, currently standing at 3-0 against him. Fans will be eager to see if he can continue his impressive performance and fend off the challenges posed by Sinner and Djokovic.