Carlos Alcaraz continued his meteoric rise at the US Open by cruising into the quarterfinals with a commanding straight‑sets victory over American Tommy Paul. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, who has been fully recovered from a wrist injury that kept him off the court for more than four months, displayed the same clinical precision that has defined his season. By dismantling Paul 6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑4, Alcaraz not only moved a step closer to adding another Grand Slam title to his résumé, but also positioned himself to make history in a way no other player in the Open Era can claim.
Alcaraz entered the tournament already holding the distinction of being the youngest male player ever to achieve a career Grand Slam, having won each of the four majors by the age of 23. If he can capture the US Open crown this year, he will become the first man in the Open Era to successfully defend major titles on all three surfaces—grass, clay, and hard courts.
He has already proven his versatility by winning Wimbledon on the grass courts in both 2023 and 2024, and by conquering the French Open’s red clay in 2024 and the previous year. A victory on Sunday would complete the set on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, cementing his status as the most adaptable champion of his generation. Paul, seeded 20th, entered the match with confidence, stating before the encounter that he always believes he can beat the top players. However, Alcaraz’s relentless aggression and superior shot‑making left little room for the American to execute his game plan.
The Spaniard has now bested Paul six consecutive times, winning the last 14 sets they have contested. Even when faced with two set points at the close of the third set, Alcaraz shrugged them off with two emphatic forehand winners, sealing the win in just two hours and 21 minutes. Reflecting on his performance, Alcaraz said, "I played my game. I tried to impose my style on today’s match.
Tommy is a talented player with dangerous shots, so I stayed ready for the battle, prepared to run whenever necessary. I kept the pressure on his return game and stayed aggressive throughout.
Playing relaxed, calm, and thinking clearly helped a lot. I’m really happy with how I performed; I feel back to full power. It doesn’t matter that I was out for four‑and‑a‑half months—every time I come here I give my best and try to enjoy it." Former British champion Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Alcaraz’s evolution: "It’s a pleasure to watch him shift into higher gears. He’s gotten better and better as the tournament has progressed.
Tommy Paul gave it his all, but Alcaraz was simply a different class. His forehand was on fire—I've seen many great forehands, but his might be the best I've ever witnessed.
The way he hits it with such power yet appears effortless is unbelievable." Legendary former world No.1 Martina Navratilova added, "It’s astonishing how quickly he has reached this level. Usually, a player with so many weapons takes years to master them, but Carlos is already operating in another stratosphere." On the women’s side, Belarusian world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka defended her US Open title and retained her top ranking after a gritty win over American Taylor Townsend. The match, played on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, unfolded as a roller‑coaster with 11 service breaks across 19 games, ultimately ending 6‑4, 6‑3 in Sabalenka’s favor.
Despite a shaky second set where she briefly fell behind, Sabalenka regrouped, focusing on point‑by‑point intensity and aggressive returning. She explained, "It’s super challenging, but I had to stay focused on myself, point by point, ball by ball. I managed to turn the second set around, which was the key moment." Sabalenka’s victory keeps her at the summit of the WTA rankings, where she has spent 99 weeks at No.1. To reach the coveted 100‑week milestone, she must capture a third consecutive US Open title and hope that current No.2 Elena Rybakina is eliminated before the semifinals.
Her next opponent will be Czech Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who survived a dramatic three‑set battle against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, saving five match points before prevailing 7‑5, 5‑7, 6‑4. Navratilova also weighed in on Sabalenka’s performance, noting, "She was solid overall.
Townsend had more winners, but Aryna excelled at returning serve and hitting passing shots. When Townsend tried to come to the net, she wasn’t successful, which highlighted Sabalenka’s baseline dominance. I’d give her a ‘B’—she lost her serve many times, but she played her best tennis when it mattered most." Former British player Annabel Croft highlighted Sabalenka’s mental toughness: "There was ferocious intensity. When she fell a break down in the second set, she galvanized herself, let out a huge shout, and you could tell she meant business.
Her passion, aura, and personality make her a great showwoman—tennis is entertainment as well as sport. She’s taken some beating but doesn’t look as vulnerable as expected. She hasn’t dropped a set and looks in great shape." The men’s draw also saw a historic moment as Ben Shelton’s run to the quarterfinals ended a 149‑year streak of one‑handed backhand players reaching at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam. Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, a player whose one‑handed backhand is a relic of a bygone era.
Tsitsipas lamented after his 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑4 loss, "In the 1950s, about 97‑98% of players used a one‑handed backhand. Now it’s only two or three percent." Shelton’s path also included a win over left‑handed Denis Shapovalov, another practitioner of the classic stroke, further underscoring the shift toward two‑handed backhands in modern power tennis. The decline of the one‑handed backhand marks the end of a tradition that saw at least one player with that technique reach a men’s singles semifinal at a major every year since Wimbledon’s inception in 1877.
American Frances Tiafoe added to the excitement by dispatching 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 7‑6(7‑1), 6‑4, 7‑6(7‑6) to secure his own quarterfinal berth. He will face fellow American Alex Michelsen, who earlier in the day overcame Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets.
The tournament continues to deliver high‑quality tennis, with live coverage available on Sky Sports and streaming options on NOW and the Sky Sports App. Overall, the US Open’s quarterfinal stage showcases a blend of emerging talent, seasoned champions, and historic milestones, setting the stage for thrilling semifinals and a potential historic double‑crown for Alcaraz, as well as a chance for Sabalenka to cement her dominance on the hard courts of New York.