Alcaraz banishes US Open demons to reach 3rd round

NEW YORK, Aug 28 (AFP): Carlos Alcaraz put the "bad thoughts" of last year's early US Open exit behind him Wednesday as he charged into the third round with a straight-sets win over Mattia Bellucci.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz powered past world number 65 Bellucci 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 to set up a meeting with another Italian, 32nd seed Luciano Darderi.

Alcaraz, the 2022 US Open winner, suffered a shock second-round loss at last year's tournament and revealed that was on his mind as he walked out for the night session on Arthur Ashe.

"If I'm honest,

I thought about last year when I stepped on the court," said Alcaraz.

"Some bad thoughts. I was nervous about it, like thinking, okay, I don't want to do the same thing as I did last year, losing in the second round.