Alcaraz never doubted Djokovic fightback at US Open

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz said he always believed Novak Djokovic would escape from his two-set deficit at the US Open as the pair remained on a collision course Saturday.

Djokovic came from two sets down to beat Serbian compatriot Laslo Djere on Friday to avoid his earliest exit in New York since he lost in the third round as a teenager in 2006.

Alcaraz, who joined Djokovic in the last 16 on Saturday, went to bed before the conclusion of his rival's late night match but insisted he'd had no doubt how it would finish.

"Well, I watched the first two sets, then I had to go to sleep," revealed Alcaraz.

"But, you know, when I go to bed, I was thinking Novak is going to come back, that's for sure. He shows once again that he's one of the best in history."

It marked the eighth time Djokovic had recovered from an 0-2 hole to win a Grand Slam match, and the 38th five-set victory of his career.

"It's something crazy," said Alcaraz, who will surrender the number one ranking to Djokovic after the US Open.

"Stay 36 years old and doing the same things that when he was 20, it's incredible. We have to give credit about that, and it's something I admire."

Alcaraz himself certainly has his growing legion of admirers, turning in another eye-catching display in a four-set win over Evans, who gave the Spaniard his first real challenge of the week.

The world number one crashed 61 winners past the 26th-seeded Briton to prevail 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and line up a meeting with Italy's Matteo Arnaldi.

"I'm really, really happy to get through," said Alcaraz, now unbeaten in three matches with Evans.

"He's a tricky opponent. I think when we play each other it's a show on the court. We made great points, great shots, a lot of different kinds of situations.

"We play to entertain, to make the match fun... and we feel the energy (of people) enjoying that."

The 20-year-old Alcaraz is aiming to become the first man to defend the US Open crown since 2008, when Roger Federer hoisted the trophy for a fifth consecutive year.

"Obviously defending the title is a goal for me. I'm looking for that. Nobody's done it here since Roger so I'd love to be part of tournament history with him."

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