Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open with a dominant straight-sets victory over American Tommy Paul, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Spanish champion, defending his 2023 title, showed composed tennis throughout to secure his fourth consecutive win at Flushing Meadows and return to the Grand Slam last eight for the first time in 150 days.
The opening set proved competitive, with Paul consistently threatening on Alcaraz's serve. The world number 21 mounted pressure throughout but found no breaks until Alcaraz seized his opportunity. The Spaniard's aggressive baseline game and superior finishing in crucial moments allowed him to edge the first set and establish control of the match. Alcaraz's forehand proved particularly effective, setting up the foundation for his attack-minded approach.
Dominant Second and Third Sets
Alcaraz's intensity never wavered in the second set, where he broke Paul's serve twice—the second time after an errant forehand from the American handed back a break. A clinical forehand winner secured the decisive third break, sealing the set with the crowd's backing. Paul offered resistance in the third frame, searching for momentum, but Alcaraz's early break proved decisive. He held serve without drama to close out victory in straight sets.
The win carries significant momentum for Alcaraz's title bid. Notably, the 21-year-old has never lost a Grand Slam match after winning the opening two sets—a perfect 32-0 record at majors in that scenario. This quarter-final appearance marks his return to the late stages of a Grand Slam following his semi-final exit at Wimbledon, where he was forced to withdraw due to injury. His commanding display against Paul suggests he has recovered fully and remains among the tournament favorites heading into the final eight.
