Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarter-finals in New York by defeating Tommy Paul in straight sets, continuing his dominant return from a four-and-a-half-month wrist injury layoff. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka held off Taylor Townsend to retain the world No 1 ranking on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Clinical Carlos Alcaraz moved a step closer to making more tennis history at Flushing Meadows, dismantling American Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4 in the fourth round. The Spaniard showed no lingering signs of the wrist injury that sidelined him for more than four months before the tournament, powering through a two-hour and 21-minute contest on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz Dismantles Tommy Paul in Straight Sets
Alcaraz broke Paul’s serve in the 10th game of a tight opening set to take it 6-4, highlighted by a sensational cross-court forehand winner early in the second set that was measured at 103 mph. Paul, attempting to reach the quarter-finals of his home Grand Slam for the first time, fought hard and earned two break points when Alcaraz served for the match at 5-4 in the third set. However, the two-time US Open champion put together a run of four straight points to seal the victory.
“I played my game. I tried to put my style on today’s match. Tommy is such a talented player and his shots are dangerous and hard to control, so I just tried to be ready for the battle, ready to run if it mattered.”
Carlos Alcaraz, via Sky Sports
The straight-sets decision marks Alcaraz’s sixth win against the 20th-seeded American, during which he has captured the last 14 sets they have contested. Alcaraz remarked on his physical recovery after the match, telling the outlet that he feels back to full power despite the lengthy absence.
“It doesn’t matter I was out for four-and-a-half months; every time I come here I play my best.”
Carlos Alcaraz, via Sky Sports
Expert Reactions and Historical Stakes at Flushing Meadows
Former British number one Tim Henman praised the Spaniard’s seamless transition back to top-tier competition, noting that if you would have given Alcaraz a blank piece of paper at the start of the tournament, he would have scripted his opening four matches exactly like this. Henman also highlighted Alcaraz’s shot-making prowess.
“The forehand was firing. I’ve seen plenty of good forehands over the years, but I think Alcaraz’s might be the best. It’s unbelievable how he hits it so hard and doesn’t look like missing.”
Tim Henman, Sky Sports Tennis
Martina Navratilova added that the 23-year-old is operating in another stratosphere given how quickly he mastered multiple tactical options. Alcaraz is already the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. Should he triumph next Sunday, he would become the only man in the Open Era to successfully defend major titles on all three surfaces, having previously won at Wimbledon and the French Open.
Aryna Sabalenka Secures Hard-Fought Win Over Taylor Townsend
In the women’s draw on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aryna Sabalenka clung onto her US Open title and the world No 1 ranking after an unconvincing 6-4 6-3 victory over American Taylor Townsend. The Belarusian battled through a bizarre match featuring 11 breaks of serve from 19 games, having to come from a breakdown in the second set.
Sabalenka said it is super challenging but important to focus on oneself, and noted that she felt she was down the break and tried to return the serve to put as much pressure on her opponent as possible.
Sabalenka has spent 99 weeks at the top of the rankings and needs a third straight Flushing Meadows title—alongside an early exit for current No 2 Elena Rybakina—to reach a century at the summit. In the quarter-finals, Sabalenka will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who advanced past Marta Kostyuk in a 7-5 5-7 6-4 thriller.
Frances Tiafoe and American Hopes in New York
The home crowd on Louis Armstrong Stadium was treated to a dramatic victory as Frances Tiafoe defeated 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 7-6 (8-6). Tiafoe saved a set point in the third-set tie-break to maintain a perfect 10-0 record on the US Open’s secondary show court. The 11th seed advances to set up an all-American quarter-final clash against Alex Michelsen, who reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final by defeating Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 6-4.
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