US Open: Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz headline high-octane third-round action

The 2025 US Open continues with high-octane third-round action on Friday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, with marquee matchups featuring World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and five-time champion Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz, the 2024 Olympic silver medallist and owner of one of tennis' most talked-about haircuts, will take centre stage during the morning session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Spaniard faces Italy's Luciano Darderi in what promises to be a display of power and precision as he looks to progress in his bid for a second Grand Slam title of the year.

Later in the day, Novak Djokovic returns to Flushing Meadows' centre court to face Great Britain's Cameron Norrie at 19:00 EDT (04:30 IST). Djokovic will be looking to assert his dominance on the hard courts and silence critics questioning his fitness as he chases a fifth US Open crown.

American fans will have plenty to cheer for as Taylor Townsend goes head-to-head with world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in the women's singles third round. Other top women's seeds in action include Jessica Pegula, Emma Raducanu, and Aryna Sabalenka, all seeking to move closer to the championship stage.

Full third-round singles schedule for Day 6 (all timings in IST):

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Men's Singles: [2] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs [32] Luciano Darderi (ITA) - 9 p.m.

Women's Singles: [4] Jessica Pegula (USA) vs Victoria Azarenka - Not before 9:00 p.m.

Men's Singles: [7] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Cameron Norrie (GBR) - Not before 4:30 a.m.

Women's Singles: [5] Mirra Andreeva vs Taylor Townsend (USA) - Not before 11:00 p.m.

Louis Armstrong Stadium

Women's Singles: [9] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs Emma Raducanu (GBR) - 8:30 p.m.

Men's Singles: [6] Ben Shelton (USA) vs Adrian Mannarino (FRA) - Not before 11:00 p.m.

Women's Singles: [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [31] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) - Not before 4:30 a.m.

Men's Singles: [4] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs [Q] Jerome Kym (SUI) - Time TBD

Grandstand

Men's Singles: [20] Jiri Lehecka (CZE) vs Raphael Collignon (BEL) - 8:30 p.m.

Women's Singles: [7] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) - Not before 10:30 p.m.

Men's Singles: [17] Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs [Q] Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) - Not before 12:30 a.m.

Women's Singles: [10] Emma Navarro (USA) vs Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) - Time TBD

Stadium 17

Men's Singles: Benjamin Bonzi (FRA) vs Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) - 8:30 p.m.

Women's Singles: [19] Elise Mertens (BEL) vs Cristina Bucsa (ESP) - Time TBD

Women's Singles: Ann Li (USA) vs [Q] Priscilla Hon (AUS) - Time TBD

Men's Singles: [21] Tomas Machac (CZE) vs [Q] Ugo Blanchet (FRA) - Not before 2:30 a.m.

Indians in Action

Court 12: Men's Doubles, First Round—N. Sriram Balaji/Rithvik Bollipalli vs Vasil Kirkov (USA)/Bart Stevens (NED)

With the stakes rising as the final Grand Slam of the year progresses, Day 6 is set to deliver thrilling encounters as tennis' brightest stars continue their chase for glory at Flushing Meadows.