The world number one has cruised into the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows and explained that he doesn't feel any additional expectations as he bids to defend his title.

Alcaraz said: "I didn’t feel anything different. I try not to think about the defending champion. I just try to be focused on my game, on my own game, on what I have to do to put my best level on court. For me, nothing else matters than playing to my level and be happy with the level that I’m playing on court.

"That’s the only thing I care about right now. I put out all the pressure that people put on you, on the defending champions. I just delete it and focus on my own game."

Alcaraz defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets to reach the last eight in New York and was happy with his display in the victory.

He said: "The intensity from the start to the last ball, I think I played a really solid match.

"Less mistakes. I played my game. Tried to go to the net all the time. I am really happy with the performance and I am happy to be through."

Alcaraz is bidding to become the first male player to defend the US Open title in 15 years and is comfortable on the tournament's hard courts.

He said: "Right now my favourite surface is hard court and when I won Wimbledon I said I fell in love with grass.

"I am really comfortable with the three surfaces, but right now hard courts is my favourite one."