NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz demolished Mattia Bellucci to banish memories of last year’s shock early exit, while Novak Djokovic shook off a sluggish start to reach the third round on Wednesday and stay on course for a potential semifinal showdown with the Spaniard.

Alcaraz lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round last year and while he made no mistake this time around he admitted that the stunning straight-sets defeat by the Dutchman had left a mark.

“If I’m honest, I thought about last year when I stepped on the court,” the 2022 champion said. “Some bad thoughts. I was nervous about it, like thinking, okay, I don’t want to do the same thing as I did last year, losing in the second round.”

Despite the nerves Alcaraz unleashed 32 winners and won 86% of his first serve points in a clinical 96-minute, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 demolition job that sets up a third-round match with another Italian, Luciano Darderi.

Djokovic’s path proved a bit bumpier, the 24-time major winner dropping the opening set before finding his rhythm to beat American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

The Serbian’s 14 unforced errors in the first set dwindled to just 11 across the remaining three as he hit his stride at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Svajda, who had poked fun at his own long odds against the former world number one in a now-viral TikTok video, put up a strong showing early on to the delight of home fans before being hampered by an apparent leg injury midway through the match.

Djokovic next faces Briton Cameron Norrie.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s pursuit of her first major silverware of the year continued with a 7-6(4), 6-2 win over Polina Kudermetova.

The defending champion, who has finished runner-up at two slams this year and exited in the semifinals of the other, will meet 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the next round.

“I know if I’m able to bring my game and fight for every point, I’ll have my chances,” Sabalenka said.

“All I try to do is focus on myself and bring the best fight possible every time I’m out here playing in front of you all.”

‘BE BRAVE’
The day’s action showcased a mix of American hope and heartbreak across the venue.

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula cruised past Anna Blinkova 6-1, 6-3 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting up a meeting with three-times finalist Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian had earlier become only the fifth woman in the professional era to claim 100 or more singles main draw wins at hardcourt majors with her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Pegula’s compatriot Taylor Townsend prevailed 7-5, 6-1 against Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostapenko in a bad-tempered match that ended on a sour note.

Frances Tiafoe also advanced with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(8), 7-5 win over qualifier Martin Damm, keeping alive hopes of ending America’s 22-year men’s drought.

“You’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to be courageous — there’s no free lunches out here,” said Tiafoe, who has twice reached the semifinals.

Fourth seed Taylor Fritz also progressed, overcoming South African Lloyd Harris 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Swiss qualifier Jerome Kym.

Briton Emma Raducanu continued her good form with a brisk 6-2, 6-1 victory over Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen in the first match on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Raducanu, who notched her first win at Flushing Meadows since her remarkable run to the title in 2021 earlier this week, was in sparkling form, making just eight unforced errors.

“I’m particularly happy because on the court, I felt like my opponent was playing really good tennis,” she said. “So I’m very pleased with how I kept dictating the points, I kept dictating the play.”

She faces ninth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the third round.

It was not all good news for British fans though, Jack Draper withdrew due to injury on Wednesday.

Fifth seed Mirra Andreeva barely had to break sweat in a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Potapova, while 10th seed Emma Navarro swatted aside American compatriot and wildcard Caty McNally 6-2, 6-1.

Norwegian 12th seed and former finalist Casper Ruud was upset by Belgian Raphael Collignon, falling 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini cruised past American hope Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-3 but home favorite Ben Shelton defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on the last match on Armstrong. — Reuters

LIONEL MESSI erupted for two goals and an assist inside the final 15 minutes, leading Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over 10-man Orlando City in a Leagues Cup semifinal on Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Telasco Segovia added the other goal for Miami, which is into the final for the second time in three years. The Herons will face either the Los Angeles Galaxy or the Seattle Sounders on Sunday, with the winner guaranteed a place in the round of 16 in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Miami won the 2023 event, defeating Nashville on penalties after a 1-1 draw in a final played in Tennessee.

Marco Pasalic scored in first-half stoppage time for Orlando, which had defeated Miami twice in league play this season.

However, the Lions were reduced to 10 men in the game’s pivotal moment that served as the start of Miami’s rally and the setup for Messi’s first goal of the competition.

In the 74th minute, the Herons’ Tadeo Allende earned a penalty kick when he got behind David Brekalo and directed a header at goal. Pedro Gallese saved the header, but referee Walter Lopez ruled that Brekalo had pulled Al-lende back.

Brekalo received his second yellow of the night and was sent off. Messi eventually stepped up to convert the opportunity in the 77th minute, shooting low to the right, with Gallese guessing correctly but not in time to reach it.

Messi won it from open play 11 minutes later. As he did so many times when the pair played together at FC Barcelona, Messi and Jordi Alba combined down the right to unlock Orlando’s short-handed defense, then finished into the same bottom right corner from close range.

He wasn’t finished. Only minutes after the restart, Messi played yet another combination with Segovia, this time with the Venezuelan finishing in close early in second-half stoppage time.

Pasalic put Orlando on top just before halftime.

Cesar Araujo, Martin Ojeda and Luis Muriel all combined before playing a pass that sprung Pasalic into the penalty area.

Pasalic was briefly dispossessed by Maximiliano Falcon, but Falcon’s clearance attempt bounded off Pasalic’s chest, then fell nicely for Pasalic to hammer a half-volley past Oscar Ustari and inside the right post. — Reuters