Carlos Alcaraz has answered any remaining questions about his fitness in emphatic fashion, powering past Tommy Paul in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 US Open.
The defending champion entered the tournament with plenty of uncertainty after spending four months away from competitive tennis because of a wrist injury. So far, however, the Spaniard has looked anything but rusty.
Against home favourite Paul inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz produced another controlled performance to win 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes.
The opening set was closely contested, with both players holding serve through the first nine games. Alcaraz finally found the breakthrough at the crucial moment, breaking Paul before serving out the set 6-4.
From there, the match quickly moved in the Spaniard's favour.
Alcaraz broke twice in the second set and added another break in the third, leaving Paul with few opportunities to fight his way back into the contest.
The defending champion's attacking tennis was particularly effective. He struck 33 winners throughout the match, almost twice as many as Paul's 18, while consistently putting pressure on the American's service games.
“I just tried to be ready for a battle and tried to be aggressive all the time,” Alcaraz said after the match.
That approach has been a defining feature of his run so far.
Alcaraz has now dropped only one set across his first four matches in New York, suggesting that his extended absence has done little to slow him down.
The victory also added another milestone to his growing Grand Slam record. Alcaraz became only the 10th man in the Open Era to defeat the same opponent at all four Grand Slam tournaments, completing the set against Paul.
More importantly, he has now won 18 consecutive Grand Slam matches, extending a remarkable run that includes his successful title defence at last year's US Open and his Australian Open triumph earlier this season.
With a 26-3 record in 2026, Alcaraz is once again looking like one of the biggest threats in the men's draw.
The next challenge could be considerably tougher.
Alcaraz will face eighth seed Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals after the American defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
Shelton brings a very different challenge, with his explosive serve and powerful groundstrokes capable of putting even the world's best players under pressure. However, Alcaraz has already beaten him in all three of their previous meetings.
The Spaniard will also have the confidence of knowing that his comeback has gone almost perfectly so far.
After months away from the tour, Alcaraz arrived in New York with questions surrounding his wrist, match fitness and ability to handle the intensity of Grand Slam tennis.
Four matches later, those doubts are becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
The defending champion is now just three victories away from another US Open final, and his latest performance suggests he has no intention of giving up his crown without a fight.
