India, Aug. 28 -- Before this year, Novak Djokovic had never come into the US Open without playing a single competitive tournament after Wimbledon. Before this year, Carlos Alcaraz had never come into the US Open playing less than two competitive tournaments after Wimbledon.

Both multiple-time Grand Slam winners, lurking in the same half of the draw, tweaked their calendars with a similar objective - to be fresher for the season-ending Slam. Early indications couldn't have been more contrasting of the altered approaches.

We'll focus on one, for Cincinnati champion Alcaraz has simply carried his momentum to New York and delivered a 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 Round 2 romp of Mattia Bellucci in among his most clinical early round shows at Majors.

Clin...