Carlos Alcaraz is beginning to look like a man on a mission at the US Open. The Spaniard brushed aside Tommy Paul in straight sets, while Aryna Sabalenka survived a messy battle with Taylor Townsend to keep her title defence alive.
Alcaraz produced a clinical display to win 6-4 6-3 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes. The victory was even more impressive given his wrist injury, which kept him out of action for more than four months before the tournament.
The 23-year-old is chasing another piece of tennis history in New York. He is already the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, and another US Open title would make him the only man in the Open Era to defend major titles across all three surfaces.
Alcaraz has already won Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024. He also claimed the French Open in 2024 and last year, leaving Flushing Meadows as the final part of a remarkable major record.
Paul entered the contest with confidence. The American had said he always believed he could beat top players, but Alcaraz quickly took control and extended his winning run over Paul to six matches.
“I played my game. I tried to put my style on today’s match,” Alcaraz said. He also declared that he felt back to “full power” after his long absence.
Sabalenka had a tougher night. She beat Townsend 6-4 6-3 in a match that produced 11 breaks of serve in just 19 games.
The world No 1 now has 99 weeks at the top. She needs a third straight US Open crown, plus an early exit for Elena Rybakina, to reach 100 weeks.
Elsewhere, Ben Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas and helped end a remarkable 149-year streak. For the first time since 1877, no one-handed backhand player will reach the men’s Grand Slam semi-finals.
Frances Tiafoe also moved into the last eight after beating Daniil Medvedev. He will face fellow American Alex Michelsen in another intriguing quarter-final.
