Alcaraz breezes into last eight at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz overwhelmed Tommy Paul in straight sets on Sunday, reaching the US Open quarterfinals while keeping his bid for back-to-back titles firmly on course.

The second-seeded Spaniard won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 against the American 20th seed in a high-intensity contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium. He has not dropped a set in four matches in New York and has now won 18 consecutive major matches.

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I think I just played my game. I tried to play to my style. Tommy’s such a talented player, and his shots are pretty dangerous, and it’s difficult to control the ball when it comes to you. I was ready for a battle.

Paul briefly thrilled the home crowd with a 161-kilometre-per-hour forehand winner around the net in the third game. Alcaraz held firm under pressure, then struck late to take the opening set. A crosscourt winner helped him break early in the second, and although the players exchanged breaks, Alcaraz quickly re-established control.

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I was trying to be aggressive all the time … I did well to put pressure on his return, which helped me stay calm and to think clearly. I was really happy with the performance.

“I think I just played my game,” Alcaraz said. “I tried to play to my style. Tommy’s such a talented player, and his shots are pretty dangerous, and it’s difficult to control the ball when it comes to you. I was ready for a battle.”

Alcaraz briefly faltered while serving for the match, but regrouped and finished with a powerful forehand. He will meet Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas next. The 23-year-old has reached the quarterfinals in five of his six US Open appearances, despite missing nearly five months with a wrist injury. “Every time I come here, I play well,” he said.

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It shows how special this place is to me; I’m just enjoying myself on court here. It doesn’t matter that I was out for over four months. Every time I come here, I play well.