Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday, defeating American 20th seed Tommy Paul with a commanding 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory. The win keeps the seven-time Grand Slam champion firmly in contention for back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows and ensures he has not dropped a set throughout the tournament’s first four rounds.
Alcaraz returned to top form in New York following a five-month absence due to a right wrist injury, extending his major match-winning streak to 18 with a display of aggressive shotmaking against another powerful hitter. Speaking after the match, the Spaniard emphasized his commitment to his natural style of play.
“I think I just played my game,” Alcaraz said. “Tommy’s such a talented player, and his shots are pretty dangerous, and it’s difficult to control the ball when it comes to you. I was ready for a battle.”
The second seed faced early pressure in the third game when Paul unleashed a 161km/h forehand winner that electrified the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. However, Alcaraz steadied himself to take the opening set and quickly established a 2-0 lead in the second with a sharp crosscourt winner. Despite trading breaks, he maintained control and cruised through the remainder of the match.
With the victory, Alcaraz moved within one win of matching his Grand Slam record against American opponents, currently standing at 13-0. He briefly showed signs of tension near the end but recovered to secure the knockout blow, setting up a fourth-round clash against either American Ben Shelton or Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Alcaraz acknowledged his strong history at the venue, where he reached the quarterfinals in five of his six appearances. “It shows how special this place is to me; I’m just enjoying myself on court here,” he said. “It doesn’t matter that I was out for over four months. Every time I come here, I play well.”
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