Alcaraz rolls past Paul and awaits Shelton or Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals

Carlos Alcaraz raised his level and swept aside American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals of the US Open, where he is defending his title.

The Spaniard needed two hours and 21 minutes to beat Paul and remain unbeaten against American opponents at Grand Slam tournaments. He will play his fifth US Open quarterfinal on Tuesday and the 15th of his Grand Slam career.

Alcaraz will face either Ben Shelton, another American, or Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas. Shelton recently won in Montreal, while Tsitsipas is rebuilding his form after a deep decline in recent years.

The 2026 tournament marks Alcaraz’s return to New York after a four-month absence caused by a wrist problem. The injury kept him out of the French Open and Wimbledon, although he began the year by winning the Australian Open. Combined with his 2025 US Open title, that result has extended his Grand Slam winning streak to 17 matches.

Paul had troubled Alcaraz early in his career, beating him in Toronto in 2023 and nearly defeating him the following week in Cincinnati. Alcaraz managed the American’s varied game, held firm on serve and converted his second break point at 5-4 to take the opening set. He then moved 4-1 ahead with two breaks in the second set before closing it 6-3. A break in the third game of the final set put him on course for another 6-4 victory. Alcaraz has never lost a Grand Slam match after taking a two-set lead.