US Open top seed Carlos Alcaraz had an unexpectedly early night inside Arthur Ashe Stadium Tuesday when opponent Dominik Koepfer retired with the Spaniard leading 6-2, 3-2 after 60 minutes.
The German World No. 75 suffered a freak ankle injury just six points into the match when he rolled his left ankle while moving backwards as an Alcaraz stroke sailed over the baseline.
The 29-year-old received treatment at deuce in the first game and battled until midway through the second set, when eventually the pain and risk of further injury became too much to bear.
“It’s obviously not the best way to get through to the next round,” said Alcaraz, who debuted an artistic sleeveless match shirt. “It’s very unfortunate for him but I was feeling really good on court. It’s a court I love playing in. I felt the same energy I felt last year.”
Alcaraz, who will next meet South African Lloyd Harris, is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the men’s US Open title since Roger Federer won five straight between 2004-08.
Because he is dropping 2000 points as the defending champion, regardless of results Alcaraz will surrender World No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on 12 September to Novak Djokovic, who has no points to defend because he did not play the event last year.
Alcaraz is seeded to meet Italian Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals in what would be a rematch of their five-hour Flushing Meadows epic last year, in which the Italian held a match point.
Earlier on Tuesday night Sinner dropped just five games in a commanding 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 win over German Yannick Hanfmann. Looking to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, Sinner won 50 per cent of return points and claimed six service breaks.
“I was playing good, I was returning good,” Sinner said. “Sometimes the serve could be a little bit better. But the atmosphere is obviously very nice. I know physically I’m healthy, which is most important.”
Sinner next faces countryman Lorenzo Sonego, having beaten the World No. 39 in their two career Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings this year in Halle and Montpellier.