Alcaraz shrugs off comeback rust and cruises into US Open quarterfinals

What looked like a serious test against Tommy Paul turned into another smooth step forward for Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard won 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in 2 hours and 21 minutes, reaching the US Open quarterfinals without needing to push himself to the limit.

Alcaraz had spent 139 days away from competition, yet his return has followed the best possible script. Apart from the set he dropped against Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round, nobody has managed to put him under sustained pressure. Paul, an experienced opponent who had resisted him more strongly in the past, could not create that kind of tension this time.

The match reinforced the impression that Alcaraz’s exceptional qualities remain intact. He looked firmer, calmer and more secure than in his previous outing, moving through the court as if victory were simply a matter of momentum. His wrist has shown no troubling signs, and as the draw narrows, the candidacy of the world number three is gaining strength.

Jannik Sinner is not in the tournament, and the article portrays Alcaraz and Sinner as competitors operating on another level when both are present. With Sinner absent, Alcaraz appears to control his own route forward. His next opponent will be Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas.