NEW YORK — Ever since Carlos Alcaraz was 12 or so — OK, not forever ago, considering he’s still just 20 — he made sure that variety was a key element of his game.
Back then, he explained, there were so many options at his disposal that he might encounter a bit of trouble figuring out which to employ. And, he acknowledged, that can even be the case to this day.
Alcaraz was by no means perfect during a 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over 26th-seeded Dan Evans in the US Open’s third round on Saturday — there was that wayward set, after all — but the defending champion produced enough moments of brilliance to keep himself smiling and his many fans in New York roaring in approval.
To hear the No. 1-seeded Alcaraz explain it, “a lot of different” possibilities enter his mind in the midst of a point — “the drop shot, big forehand, go to the net, multiple things” — before he selects which stroke to try. It can make things “difficult” on occasion, he said.
“Most of the time, I find the right one,” the Spanish star said, “but sometimes I struggle to hit good shots because of that.”
His opponent in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday noticed.
“If anything, he probably plays too many shots,” Evans said. “He let me out of jail a few times playing the wrong shot, which was good for me.”
But there also were those “How did he do that?!” highlights that Alcaraz conjures up with frequency.
One in particular helped swing Saturday’s match his way for good. Evans was seemingly in control of what would become a 12-stroke point, sending Alcaraz scrambling to his left for a defensive backhand. On his follow-through, Alcaraz stumbled a bit, nearly tumbling to the blue court. But he gathered himself and quickly switched direction, sprinting to his right with seven lengthy strides before sliding wide of the doubles alley as he flicked a down-the-line forehand.
The ball caught the back of the baseline for a winner that converted a break point for a 4-2 edge in the fourth set. Evans chucked his racket toward the bottom of the net, grimaced and placed his hands on his hips. Alcaraz raised his arms, using his left index finger to make a “No. 1” gesture.
“Took the wind out my sails,” Evans said.
So what’s it like to play Alcaraz?
“I’m not sure you know — well, I definitely didn’t know — what’s, sort of, coming next,” Evans said. “And that, sort of, sets you on the back foot and [makes it] difficult to anticipate.”
Less than 12 hours after the man he’s expected to meet next…
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