Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant run at the US Open, cruising past American Tommy Paul in straight sets to secure a place in the quarterfinals. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard showed no lingering effects from the wrist injury that kept him out for more than four months earlier this year, delivering a clinical performance that underscored his status as the sport’s brightest young star.
Alcaraz’s victory over the 20th‑seeded Paul, who entered the match confident that he could upset a top player, was decisive: 6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑4. The win marks the sixth consecutive triumph for Alcaraz over the 29‑year‑old, extending his unbeaten run to 14 straight sets in their head‑to‑head encounters. Although Paul pushed Alcaraz to the brink at the end of the third set, the Spaniard fended off two set points with two powerful forehand winners, sealing the match in just two hours and 21 minutes.
Speaking after the match, Alcarat emphasized his game plan and mental approach. "I played my game and tried to impose my style from the start," he said. "Tommy is a talented player with dangerous shots, so I stayed ready for the battle and kept moving. I tried to be aggressive on every point and didn’t give him time to settle.
Putting pressure on his return game helped a lot, and staying relaxed and clear‑headed made the difference." He added that he felt fully recovered: "Am I back to full power? I think so. I always play my best here, and I just try to enjoy it. The four‑and‑a‑half months out didn’t change that." Commentators from Sky Sports praised Alcaraz’s form.
Tim Henman noted, "It’s a pleasure to watch Alcaraz shift into higher gears. He’s improved with every match and today his forehand was simply extraordinary – perhaps the best I’ve ever seen in terms of power and precision." Former champion Martina Navratilova added, "It’s astonishing how quickly he has reached this level. Many players take years to develop such a complete game, but Carlos is already operating in a different stratosphere." Alcaraz’s progress brings him closer to a historic achievement. He is already the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, having won the French Open on clay in 2024 and Wimbledon on grass in both 2023 and 2024.
A victory in New York would give him a third consecutive US Open title, making him the only male player in the Open Era to successfully defend majors on all three surfaces – clay, grass and hard courts. The prospect of a back‑to‑back Flushing Meadows crown adds another layer of excitement to his quarterfinal clash, which will be played on Sunday.
On the women’s side, Belarusian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defended her US Open title with a gritty 6‑4, 6‑3 win over American Taylor Townsend. The match was a roller‑coaster, featuring eleven service breaks across 19 games, and required Sabalenka to dig deep after a momentary lapse in the second set.
"It’s super challenging, but I have to stay focused on myself," Sabalenka explained. "When I fell behind, I reminded myself to stay aggressive on the return and keep the pressure on. Turning the second set around was the key moment for me." Sabalenka’s triumph keeps her atop the rankings, where she has spent 99 weeks as world No. 1.
To reach the coveted 100‑week milestone, she must capture a third straight US Open title and hope that current No. 2 Elena Rybakina exits before the semifinals. In the upcoming quarterfinal, Sabalenka will face Czech Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who earned her spot after a dramatic three‑set victory over fellow Czech Marta Kostyuk (7‑5, 5‑7, 6‑4).
Kostyuk fought back from five match points, saving two at the end of the second set and three in the decider, before Noskova ultimately prevailed. Navratilova praised Sabalenka’s resilience: "She was solid overall, returning serve brilliantly and hitting passing shots when needed. Townsend had more winners, but Aryna’s baseline game was superior. I’d give her a ‘B’ – she lost serve several times, yet she performed when it mattered most." Annabel Croft highlighted the champion’s intensity: "Sabalenka’s ferocious drive was evident when she fell behind.
She rallied, let out a huge shout, and showed that she’s not just a player but a performer. She understands tennis is also entertainment, and she delivers it with passion and personality." 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 the semifinals of a Grand Slam. Shelton eliminated Stefanos Tsitsipas, a player who noted that only about two to three percent of modern professionals still use a one‑handed backhand, compared with nearly all players in the 1950s. Shelton’s path included a win over left‑handed Denis Shapovalov, another rare one‑handed backhand exponent, before dispatching Tsitsipas 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑4.
American Frances Tiafoe also advanced, beating 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 7‑6 (7‑1), 6‑4, 7‑6 (7‑6) to reach the quarterfinals. He will meet fellow American Alex Michelsen, who secured his spot by defeating Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7‑6 (8‑6), 6‑4, 6‑4 earlier in the day. The US Open continues to provide thrilling narratives across both draws, with Alcaraz and Sabalenka poised to add further chapters to their already impressive legacies. The tournament remains available live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options on NOW and the Sky Sports App for viewers without a contract.
Fans can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at the O2 in London from September 25‑27, broadcast on Sky Sports.