Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz continued his run at the US Open 2026 by reaching the quarter-finals. In the fourth-round men’s singles match in New York, the Spanish star defeated American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets, recording his 18th consecutive Grand Slam-level victory.
Alcaraz produced an aggressive performance against Paul from the start. The American made several b shots in the opening games, but Alcaraz maintained pressure at key moments. He repeatedly attacked Paul’s serve and converted four of 14 break points.
Alcaraz quickly established an advantage in the second set as well. His returns and aggressive baseline shots kept Paul under pressure throughout the match. Alcaraz completed the victory in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
The win gives Alcaraz his fifth quarter-final appearance in six US Open appearances. He has been eliminated before the quarter-finals only once during his US Open campaigns.
The victory is also notable for Alcaraz, who returned to competitive tennis after a break of around four and a half months. He had been away from the court since April because of a right wrist injury. The US Open 2026 is his first tournament since the injury, and he has lost only one set so far.
Alcaraz will next face eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton. Shelton reached the last eight after defeating Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round.
It will be Shelton’s second US Open quarter-final in New York. Against Tsitsipas, Shelton hit 11 aces and won 83 percent of points on his first serve.
Alcaraz and Shelton have played three times, with Alcaraz winning all three matches. Their most recent meeting came at the 2025 French Open, where Alcaraz won in four sets.
Shelton will now attempt to become the first American player to defeat Alcaraz in a Grand Slam match.
Questions had initially been raised about Alcaraz’s fitness and match practice following his injury layoff. After four matches, his performances have shown that he is gradually regaining his best rhythm. Shelton has also acknowledged that Alcaraz looks like his usual level of player on court.
