Carlos Alcaraz marked his commanding return to form by dismantling American Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4 to secure a spot in the US Open quarter-finals. The 23-year-old Spaniard, playing only his fourth competitive singles match in over four months, displayed elite-level tennis to continue his unbeaten run in New York, having dropped just a single set throughout the tournament.
Alcaraz faces either Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas next, both of whom are set to decide their place in the final eight on Sunday. The seven-time Grand Slam champion has an impeccable record against both potential opponents, having never lost to either at the tour level, including six victories over Tsitsipas and three wins against Shelton.
The win extends Alcaraz’s winning streak at major championships to 18 matches. He missed the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year due to a wrist injury but has since reclaimed titles at the Australian Open and the 2025 US Open.
Speaking on court after the match, Alcaraz expressed satisfaction with his physical condition. “I think so,” he said when asked if he was back to full power. “Except for one year since my debut in 2021, I’ve made the quarter-finals here. That shows how special this place is to me.”
Former British number one Tim Henman praised the quality of the performance, noting the difficulty of returning from such a long absence. “He would have scripted it exactly like that if you asked him how he wanted the first four matches to go,” Henman observed.
In other action, home favorite Frances Tiafoe advanced to the quarter-finals with a thrilling three-set victory over 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev, maintaining his perfect record at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Leave a Reply