Carlos Alcaraz holds off Evans to advance at Flushing Meadows

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcame Britain's Daniel Evans with a 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-3 win on Saturday, surviving his first real challenge at the US Open in the third round.

The top-seeded Spaniard breezed through his opening matches at Flushing Meadows and at first appeared on track for another easy victory but had to find his best form after Evans mounted a third-set comeback.

He next plays Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who shocked Britain's 16th seed Cameron Norrie in straight sets on Court 17.

"He's a tricky opponent," Alcaraz said of Evans. "We made great points, great shots. A lot of different kinds of situations."

Alcaraz moved through the first set like a freight train, winning the first four games, and the 26th-seeded Evans failed to convert any of his three break points in the eighth game.

Evans did let out a roar as he broke Alcaraz with an unreturnable backhand down the line in the second game of the second set but the Spaniard broke back immediately and the Briton helped his opponent to another break in the fifth.

OH MY CARLOS ALCARAZ.