Carlos Alcaraz continued his meteoric rise at the US Open by cruising into the quarter‑finals, further cementing his place in tennis history. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, who has been sidelined for more than four months with a wrist injury, showed no lingering effects as he dismantled American qualifier Tommy Paul in straight sets, 6‑4 6‑3 6‑4. Alcaraz’s performance not only highlighted his physical recovery but also underscored his mental resilience; he fended off two set points in the final game of the third set, converting them into emphatic forehand winners that sealed the match in just two hours and twenty‑one minutes. Alcaraz’s victory over Paul marks his sixth consecutive win against the 29‑year‑old opponent and extends his dominance to 14 straight sets when they meet.
The Spaniard, already the youngest male player to achieve a career Grand Slam, now has a chance to become the only man in the Open Era to defend major titles on all three surfaces if he captures a second consecutive US Open crown. Having triumphed on Wimbledon’s grass in 2023 and 2024 and on the clay of Roland Garros in 2024 and 2023, a win on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows would complete his collection. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz said, "I played my game. I tried to impose my style from the start.
Tommy is a very talented player with dangerous shots, so I stayed ready for every rally and kept the pressure on his serve. I stayed aggressive, tried not to give him any comfort, and kept my return game sharp. It felt good to be relaxed, calm, and think clearly. I’m happy with my performance and feel back at full power.
Being out for four and a half months didn’t change my belief – every time I step onto these courts I give my best and enjoy the moment." Former British champion Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Alcaraz’s evolution: "Watching Carlos shift through the gears is a pleasure. He’s improved with each round. Tommy gave it everything, but Alcaraz was a class above.
His forehand is firing like never before – I’ve seen many great forehands, but his might be the best in terms of power and precision." Former world No.1 Martina Navratilova added, "It’s astonishing how quickly he’s reached this level. Usually a player with so many weapons takes years to master them, but Carlos operates in a different stratosphere." 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 nineteen games, and required Sabalenka to dig deep after a brief dip in the second set.
She explained, "It’s challenging, but I focus on myself. When I fell behind, I reminded myself to stay aggressive, return every serve, and keep the pressure on.
Turning the second set around was the turning point for me." Sabalenka’s triumph keeps her atop the rankings after 99 weeks at No.1, but a third straight Flushing Meadows title will only come if she wins her quarter‑final and if current No.2 Elena Rybakina is eliminated before the semis. In the upcoming quarter‑final, Sabalenka will face Czech Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who survived a dramatic three‑set battle against compatriot Marta Kostyuk, saving five match points before prevailing 7‑5 5‑7 6‑4.
Navratilova evaluated Sabalenka’s performance, noting, "She was solid overall. Townsend hit more winners, but Aryna’s return game and passing shots were exceptional.
She struggled with her serve at times, but when it mattered she delivered." Former British player Annabel Croft added, "Sabalenka brought ferocious intensity. When she was down a break in the second set she rallied, let out a huge shout, and you could tell she meant business.
Her passion, aura, and mental toughness make her a true showwoman – tennis is entertainment as well as sport, and she understands that." The men’s draw also saw a historic moment when American Ben Shelton’s run to the quarter‑finals ended a 149‑year streak of one‑handed backhand players reaching the semi‑finals of a Grand Slam. Shelton eliminated Stefanos Tsitsipas, a player who lamented the decline of the classic stroke, saying, "In the 1950s almost everyone used a one‑handed backhand. Now it’s only a few percent." Shelton’s path also included a win over left‑handed Denis Shapovalov, another one‑handed backhand exponent, further underscoring the shift toward two‑handed strokes in modern power tennis.
Meanwhile, American Frances Tiafoe advanced by defeating 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in a tightly contested match, 7‑6 (7‑1) 6‑4 7‑6 (7‑6). Tiafoe will meet 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 on Sky Sports from August 30 and streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at the O2 in London later in September, also broadcast on Sky Sports.