Carlos Alcaraz Sweeps Tommy Paul to Reach US Open Quarter-finals

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over 20th seed Tommy Paul at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday. The Guardian reported that the defending champion controlled the fourth-round match with an especially effective forehand, producing his strongest performance since returning from a lengthy injury absence.

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The 23-year-old Spaniard entered the tournament after spending four and a half months out because of a wrist injury. Despite the limited preparation and the demands of best-of-five-set tennis, Alcaraz has reached the last eight without dropping a set. His latest win came against an opponent of significantly higher ranking than those he faced in the opening three rounds.

Alcaraz had already beaten Wu Yibing in the third round, but he was dissatisfied with the number of forehands he missed in that match. According to The Guardian, he returned to the practice court shortly after leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium to work on that stroke. Against Paul two days later, the forehand became the central weapon in a convincing straight-sets result.

His serve has also improved during the tournament. The Guardian reported that Alcaraz began the event with reduced speed and inconsistent placement, but showed better pace and precision as he progressed through the draw. That improvement helped him prevent Paul from turning any of the three sets into an extended contest.

Paul acknowledged after the match that the gap between the players felt substantial, while also saying there were lessons to take from facing Alcaraz. The result ended the American's run and sent the seven-time Grand Slam champion back into a familiar stage of the New York tournament.

Alcaraz said in his on-court interview that Flushing Meadows remains a special venue for him, noting that he has reached at least the quarter-finals in every appearance but one since 2021. His successful return has now carried him within three victories of defending the title, although the identity of his quarter-final opponent was not specified in The Guardian's report.