Full Breakdown
Carlos Alcaraz Moves into US Open Quarterfinals After Straight-Set Win Over Tommy Paul
9/7/2026, 11:51:21 AM
Alcaraz Advances to the Quarterfinals
On September 6, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz defeated 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 23-year-old Spaniard, playing his first tournament after a four-month right-wrist layoff, secured his place in the quarterfinals for the fifth time in his career and extended his Grand Slam match-win streak to 18.
Background and Recent Form
Alcaraz missed the French Open and Wimbledon earlier in the summer because of the same wrist injury that kept him off the tour for more than four months. Prior to the injury, he completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in January 2026 and had captured the US Open title in 2025, giving him two consecutive US Open crowns and three major titles overall. His return to competition began with a limited schedule, but he entered the US Open as the second seed and the defending champion.
Match Statistics
- Final score: 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
- Winners: Alcaraz hit 33 winners to Paul’s 18.
- Service performance: Alcaraz held 93 % of his service games and dropped only one set in his first four rounds.
- Break points: Alcaraz saved two break points in the final game of the third set.
- Grand Slam streak: The victory marked the 18th consecutive major-level match Alcaraz has won.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'm just trying to enjoy my time on the court,” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion – “I’m just trying to enjoy my time on the court.” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion
- “I played my game. I tried to play my style,” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion – “I played my game. I tried to play my style.” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion
- “I’m really happy to see where my level is right now,” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion – “I’m really happy to see where my level is right now.” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion
- “I’m really happy with the performance today,” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion – “I’m really happy with the performance today.” — Carlos Alcaraz, seven-time major champion
- “He was playing on a different level than me,” — Tommy Paul – “He was playing on a different level than me.” — Tommy Paul
What’s Next
Alcaraz’s quarterfinal opponent will be the winner of the eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who met later on September 6. The winner of that match will determine Alcaraz’s next challenge as he seeks to become the first man in the Open Era to defend the US Open title on hard courts while also pursuing a historic back-to-back major victory on all three surfaces.
