Alcaraz breezes into last eight at US Open

Alcaraz hasn’t dropped a azygous acceptable successful 4 matches astatine the US Open aft a triumph implicit Tommy Paul successful the past 16.

Carlos Alcaraz bushed American 20th effect Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 successful a high-voltage tennis hit-fest connected Sunday to scope the US Open quarterfinals and stay firmly connected way for back-to-back titles astatine Flushing Meadows.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion deed apical signifier successful New York aft astir 5 months retired with a close wrist injury, and extended his large match-winning streak to 18 with a stunning show of shotmaking against a chap big-hitter.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 4Federer to play tennis astatine US Open but rules retired Williams-like return
• list 2 of 4Serena Williams, Carlos Alcaraz autumn successful US Open mixed doubles quarterfinal
• list 3 of 4US Open 2026: All to cognize astir the schedule, apical seeds and favourites
• list 4 of 4Djokovic suffers daze archetypal circular exit astatine US Open amid tears and pain

“I deliberation I conscionable played my game,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to play to my style. Tommy’s specified a talented player, and his shots are beauteous dangerous, and it’s hard to power the shot erstwhile it comes to you. I was acceptable for a battle.

“I was trying to beryllium assertive each the clip … I did good to enactment unit connected his return, which helped maine enactment calm and to deliberation clearly. I was truly blessed with the performance.”

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz successful enactment during his round-of-16 lucifer against Tommy Paul of the US [Robert Deutsch/Reuters]

Alcaraz’s service came nether unit successful the 3rd crippled erstwhile Paul fired an exquisite 161km/hour (100 mph) forehand victor astir the nett that brought Arthur Ashe Stadium to its feet. Still, the Spaniard stood steadfast earlier striking precocious to snatch the opening set.

The 23-year-old near a vapour way with a crosscourt victor to carve retired an aboriginal opening successful the 2nd acceptable and swiftly took a 2-0 lead, earlier trading breaks with Paul and breezing done the remaining games for a commanding lead.

Even with overmuch of the show-court assemblage yearning for a location winner, 2nd effect Alcaraz continued to bargain the amusement with his audacious play, moving to the brink of improving his win-loss grounds against American players astatine the Grand Slams to 13-0.

After shifting down to cruise mode, Alcaraz concisely flinched astatine the decorativeness line, but helium regrouped to present the knockout stroke and acceptable up a gathering with American Ben Shelton oregon Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas successful the adjacent round.

Alcaraz deed a rocket of a forehand to bring up lucifer point, different motion that helium was reaching the highest of his powers astatine a venue wherever helium has thrived ever since his maiden Grand Slam triumph 4 years ago.

“I deliberation so,” Alcaraz said erstwhile asked astir being backmost to his champion successful New York, wherever helium has reached the quarterfinals successful 5 of his six appearances now.

“It shows however peculiar this spot is to me; I’m conscionable enjoying myself connected tribunal here. It doesn’t substance that I was retired for implicit 4 months. Every clip I travel here, I play well.”