Carlos Alcaraz swept Wu Yibing aside to reach the US Open fourth round – and said he is getting better with every match as he continues his return from a long-term injury lay-off.

The Spaniard underlined why he remains a serious contender to defend his title in New York with a 6-3 6-4 6-1 victory over China’s Wu.

The 23-year-old’s opening-round match in Flushing Meadows was his first on a singles court for 139 days after injuring his wrist in April.

Alcaraz came through his opener in straight sets but had to battle back from a set down against Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round.

However, Alcaraz continued to build momentum on Friday, needing two hours and 20 minutes on court to beat Wu.

“To be honest, I’m better than I thought,” the seven-time major champion said.

“Physically I thought I was going to be bad after the first match, but I am recovering really well. I am doing great things off the court to be in a good state.

“Right now, I think my level is really good. I think I have caught the rhythm of the competition.

“Every time that I step on the court I give it all. I’m just trying to improve, be better every match and I think I’m getting there.”

American 20th seed Tommy Paul – who Alcaraz has beaten six times in a row – awaits in the fourth round.

Alcaraz’s path to an eighth major title has opened up over the past few days.

French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev heads the men’s draw in the absence of injured world number one Jannik Sinner.

As the second seed, Alcaraz cannot meet Zverev until the final – and the German has been taken to five sets and kept on court until 2am in his two matches so far.

Novak Djokovic suffered a shock first-round exit to Argentine Mariano Navone, while Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime lost to Karen Khachanov in the second round.

As it stands, American eighth seed Ben Shelton is the only top-10 player that Alcaraz can meet before the semi-finals. He could then face seventh seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four.

Alcaraz has won all three of his meetings with Shelton and has a 6-3 winning head-to-head against Medvedev – although the inconsistent Russian beat him at Indian Wells in March.

Meanwhile, Zverev’s potential pre-final opponents include home hope Taylor Fritz and Italy’s French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli.

While Alcaraz at times appeared frustrated with his own inconsistency against Wu, the former world number three continues to demonstrate progress.

Alcaraz landed 21 winners as he extended his career-best streak of Grand Slam singles match wins to 17, but that was counteracted by 33 unforced errors and a first-serve success rate of just 67%.

Despite a seemingly straightforward scoreline, Alcaraz did not have it all his own way and repeatedly made his feelings clear on the court.

He surrendered early advantages in the first two sets – his first serve dipped to 53% in the second set – but managed to reset to avoid further complications.

“Every win Alcaraz gets, he is becoming more of a favourite,” former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Four months off, no matches and win the US Open? He is a class above everybody else, when he is good, and he is getting better by the moment.

“The way he is moving, there is no reason for him not to do well.”

Former champion Medvedev also progressed on Friday, overcoming French 26th seed Arthur Rinderknech 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Medvedev achieved his sole major title at the US Open in 2021, and has won 21 of his 23 singles titles on hard courts.

He appears in the form to challenge again, on the evidence of his three straight-set victories so far, but will have to overcome American 11th seed Frances Tiafoe or Monaco’s 22nd seed Valentin Vacherot next.

Britons Henry Patten and Joe Salisbury both won their men’s doubles first-round matches.

Top seeds Patten and Finnish parner Harri Heliovaara won 6-4 6-2 against Argentine brothers Francisco and Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram beat Australian John-Patrick Smith and Mexico’s Santiago Gonzalez 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (8-6).

Jan Choinski and Bulgaria’s Alexander Donski also advanced with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 win over American pair Martin Damm and Mackenzie McDonald.