Carlos Alcaraz continued his meteoric rise at Flushing Meadows, cruising past American Tommy Paul in straight sets to secure a spot in the US Open quarter‑finals. The 23‑year‑old Spaniard, who has been sidelined by a wrist injury for over four months, showed no lingering effects and dismantled the 20th‑seeded Paul 6‑4, 6‑3, 6‑4 in a match that lasted just two hours and twenty‑one minutes. Alcaraz’s victory marks his sixth consecutive win over the 29‑year‑old Paul and extends his dominance to 14 straight sets in their head‑to‑head encounters. Alcaraz, already the youngest male player to achieve a career Grand Slam, now has a chance to become the first man in the Open Era to defend major titles on all three surfaces.
He has lifted the Wimbledon crown on grass in 2023 and 2024 and captured the French Open on clay in 2024 and the previous year. A triumph on Sunday would complete the set on hard courts, cementing his status as a true all‑surface champion. When asked about his approach, 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 the battle and was prepared to run whenever needed. I kept the pressure on his return game, stayed aggressive, and tried not to give him any time to settle. Playing relaxed and clear‑headed helped a lot, and I’m very happy with my performance today. Am I back to full power?
I think so. Every time I come here I try to enjoy the moment, regardless of the four‑and‑a‑half months I missed." Former British star Tim Henman, commenting for Sky Sports Tennis, praised Alcaraz’s relentless intensity: "It’s a joy to watch him find another gear.
He’s improved with each round. Paul gave it his all, but Alcaras was on another level.
His forehand is firing – I’ve seen many great forehands, but his may be the best I’ve witnessed, hitting with such power while still looking effortless." Legendary former champion Martina Navratilova added, "It’s astonishing how quickly he’s reached this level. Usually a player with so many weapons takes time 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 and retained her top ranking after a gritty 6‑4, 6‑3 win over American Taylor Townsend. The match, played on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, featured an unusually high number of service breaks – 11 in 19 games – highlighting the intensity of the contest.
Sabalenka, who has spent 99 weeks at the summit of the WTA rankings, now needs a third consecutive Flushing Meadows crown and a loss by current No. 2 Elena Rybakina before the semifinals to reach the coveted 100‑week mark at the top.
Sabalenka reflected on her performance, saying, "It’s very challenging, but the key is to stay focused on yourself. After a dip in the second set I had to regroup, concentrate point by point, and keep the pressure on her serve. I’m glad I turned the second set around – that was the turning point." In the upcoming quarter‑final, Sabalenka will meet Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, who survived a marathon three‑set battle against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
Kostyuk saved five match points – two at the end of the second set and three in the decider – before Noskova prevailed 7‑5, 5‑7, 6‑4. Navratilova also weighed in on Sabalenka’s match: "It was solid overall. Townsend had 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. I’d give her a ‘B’ – she showed resilience and quality when it counted." Former British player Annabel Croft highlighted Sabalenka’s mental fortitude: "She displayed ferocious intensity. When she fell behind in the second set, she rallied, let out a huge scream, and you could see she meant business. Her passion, aura, and personality make her a great show‑woman – tennis is entertainment as well as sport.
She’s taken a few bruises but hasn’t dropped a set yet and looks in great shape." The men’s draw also saw a historic moment as Ben Shelton’s run to the quarter‑finals ended a 149‑year streak of one‑handed backhand practitioners reaching the semifinals of a Grand Slam. Shelton, who defeated left‑handed one‑handed backhander Denis Shapovalov in the third round and then overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑4, highlighted the decline of the classic stroke. Tsitsipas remarked after his loss, "In the 1950s, about 97‑98% of players used a one‑handed backhand. Now it’s only two or three percent." American Frances Tiafoe also advanced, dispatching 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 7‑6(7‑1), 6‑4, 7‑6(7‑6) to book his place among the quarter‑finalists.
He will face fellow American Alex Michelsen, who earlier in the day beat Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets. The tournament continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also catch the upcoming Laver Cup at the O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.