Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open with a dominant 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory over American 20th seed Tommy Paul on September 7, 2026, extending his remarkable comeback from a four-month wrist injury absence. The 23-year-old Spaniard has now won 18 consecutive Grand Slam singles matches and dropped only one set across his first four matches of the tournament, demonstrating that his form has fully returned despite the lengthy layoff.
Alcaraz's path back to competition began with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 opening-round win over Roman Safiullin on August 30, his first singles match in 139 days following a right wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open in April. He then recovered from a set down to defeat Portugal's Jaime Faria 4-6 6-0 6-3 6-2 in the second round, before dispatching China's Wu Yibing 6-3 6-4 6-1 in the third round. According to Olympic coverage, the comeback victory over Faria signalled his readiness to compete at the highest level despite the extended absence.
Against Paul, Alcaraz required two hours to secure his place in the last eight. The defending champion broke Paul's serve in the tenth game of a tight opening set to take it 6-4, then dominated the second and third sets. Paul, attempting to reach the quarter-finals of his home Grand Slam for the first time, battled hard throughout but proved unable to match Alcaraz's intensity. When serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, Alcaraz faced two break points from Paul but responded with four consecutive points to seal victory.
I think so. Except for one year since 2021, I've made the quarter-finals here. That shows how special this place is to me and shows how well I'm playing every time I come here. I just try to enjoy my time on the court and it doesn't matter that I was out for four and a half months - every time I come here, I play my best.
Alcaraz's performance against Paul showcased the quality of his shot-making. One sensational cross-court forehand winner early in the second set, struck from an almost impossible angle, was measured at 103 miles per hour. The display reinforced his status as the tournament favourite following the withdrawal of world number one Jannik Sinner, which elevated Alcaraz to second seed status.
How has the draw opened up for Alcaraz?
The men's singles draw has shifted dramatically in Alcaraz's favour following several high-profile exits. Novak Djokovic suffered a shock first-round defeat to Argentine Mariano Navone, while Canadian third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime lost to Karen Khachanov in the second round. French Open champion and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev heads the draw in Sinner's absence. As the second seed, Alcaraz cannot encounter Zverev until the final. The German has been pushed to five sets in both his matches so far, with his second-round contest extending until 2am, suggesting he may arrive at a potential final fatigued.
American eighth seed Ben Shelton is currently the only top-10 player Alcaraz can face before the semi-finals. He could then meet seventh seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four. Alcaraz holds a perfect 3-0 record against Shelton and maintains a 6-3 head-to-head advantage over Medvedev, though the inconsistent Russian defeated him at Indian Wells in March.
What were the technical details of Alcaraz's performance against Paul?
Alcaraz's display against Paul represented a step up from his earlier rounds. Against Wu, he had struck 21 winners but committed 33 unforced errors, reflecting occasional inconsistency with a first-serve success rate of 67%. Against Paul, Alcaraz demonstrated greater consistency and control, though the American mounted a genuine challenge throughout. The quality of Alcaraz's forehand proved decisive, with commentators noting his ability to hit winners from difficult positions.
Former British number one Tim Henman, commentating on the match, said: "He's looked very solid in the first three matches but this is Alcaraz at his best. If he keeps hitting his forehand like this, he's going to be so difficult to beat."
American former player Jeff Tarango offered a cautious assessment of Alcaraz's prospects in the quarter-finals, saying: "If Shelton were to come through, he is the kind of player that can knock the racquet out of your hand. It's going to be a real test to see how Alcaraz's wrist is with a 149mph serve coming to that forehand, but Alcaraz should get through Shelton if his wrist is fine."
What does Alcaraz's return mean for his title credentials?
Alcaraz's performance has exceeded expectations given the length of his absence. After his third-round win, he expressed surprise at his rapid recovery. "To be honest, I'm better than I thought," he said. "Physically I thought I was going to be bad after the first match, but I am recovering really well. I am doing great things off the court to be in a good state. Right now, I think my level is really good. I think I have caught the rhythm of the competition. Every time that I step on the court I give it all. I'm just trying to improve, be better every match and I think I'm getting there."
Alcaraz extended his career-best streak of Grand Slam singles match wins to 18, having captured the 2025 US Open and 2026 Australian Open in his two most recent major appearances. According to Yahoo Sports, his first-round victory over Safiullin marked a significant milestone in his recovery from injury.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash assessed Alcaraz's prospects, saying: "Every win Alcaraz gets, he is becoming more of a favourite. Four months off, no matches and win the US Open? He is a class above everybody else, when he is good, and he is getting better by the moment. The way he is moving, there is no reason for him not to do well."
What happens next for Alcaraz?
Alcaraz's quarter-final opponent will be determined by the match between American eighth seed Ben Shelton and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas, scheduled for Sunday night. According to the tournament schedule, Shelton and Tsitsipas meet in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz has never previously lost to either player at Tour level, beating Shelton three times and Tsitsipas on six occasions. The seven-time major champion's perfect record against both potential opponents suggests he will be favoured to reach the semi-finals, where he could face Medvedev.
Key Facts
- Alcaraz has won 18 consecutive Grand Slam singles matches, including victories at the 2025 US Open and 2026 Australian Open
- His return to competition came after a four-month absence following a right wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April 2026
- The second seed cannot face top seed Alexander Zverev until the final, with the German showing signs of fatigue after two five-set matches
- Alcaraz holds a 3-0 record against potential quarter-final opponent Ben Shelton and a 6-0 record against Stefanos Tsitsipas
- He has dropped only one set across his first four matches of the tournament, demonstrating a complete recovery from his lengthy injury absence
