Carlos Alcaraz won against American 20th seed Tommy Paul with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the last 16 of the US Open on September 6, 2026. This victory marks Alcaraz's advancement to the quarterfinals, where he has not dropped a single set in four matches. Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, has returned to form after a five-month absence due to a right wrist injury, extending his major match-winning streak to 18 matches.
In his post-match comments, Alcaraz stated, "I think I just played my game. I tried to play to my style. Tommy’s such a talented player, and his shots are pretty dangerous, and it’s difficult to control the ball when it comes to you. I was ready for a battle."
He emphasized his strategy of being aggressive and applying pressure on Paul’s returns. Despite facing pressure during the match, particularly when Paul hit a 161 km/h (100 mph) forehand winner, Alcaraz managed to secure the first set and maintained control throughout the match.
Alcaraz's performance has improved his win-loss record against American players at Grand Slams to 13-0. He is set to face either American Ben Shelton or Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round. Reflecting on his success at the US Open, Alcaraz remarked, "It shows how special this place is to me; I’m just enjoying myself on court here. It doesn’t matter that I was out for over four months. Every time I come here, I play well."