Daijiworld Media Network - New York
New York, Sep 7: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz produced his most convincing performance since returning from injury as he stormed into the US Open quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over American Tommy Paul on Sunday.
The second-seeded Spaniard defeated the 20th-seeded Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes to set up a last-eight clash with American Ben Shelton. The victory extended Alcaraz's Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches and marked his fifth US Open quarter-final appearance in six visits to Flushing Meadows.
Playing his first tournament since being sidelined by a right wrist injury in April, Alcaraz looked increasingly close to his best. He struck 33 winners and dictated the match with his movement and aggressive play, breaking Paul's serve at crucial moments.
"I played my game," Alcaraz said after the match. "I just tried to be ready for a battle and tried to be aggressive all the time."
After breaking Paul late in the opening set, Alcaraz took control by breaking twice in the second and again early in the third. He closed out the contest with a gutsy service hold after saving two break points, sealing victory on his first match point.
Shelton, meanwhile, raised his level considerably to beat former world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes. The American fired 11 aces, won 83 per cent of his first-serve points and did not face a single break point.
The victory earned Shelton his second US Open quarter-final and set up a meeting with Alcaraz, against whom he is yet to win in three previous encounters.
"I think the level that he's been playing at is really, really impressive. To not play for five months then do what he's done so far this tournament has been super-human," Shelton said of Alcaraz. "I think it's going to be fireworks on Tuesday."
In the women's draw, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a historic third consecutive US Open title by defeating American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3.
Sabalenka's contest with the versatile Townsend featured five breaks of serve at the beginning, but the world No 1 eventually imposed her power and precision. After falling 3-1 behind in the second set, Sabalenka won the final five games to seal her place in the quarter-finals.
"I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball," Sabalenka said. "I'm happy that I was able to turn around that second set."
Sabalenka will next face sixth-seeded Czech Linda Noskova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, who survived a tense three-set battle against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
Noskova needed six match points to complete the victory after failing to convert two opportunities in the second set.
"I am more than relieved. This match was so tough, emotionally more so than physically," Noskova said.
American Frances Tiafoe also reached the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) victory over 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev. The 11th seed, who has twice previously reached the semi-finals in New York, will meet compatriot Alex Michelsen in the last eight.
Michelsen defeated Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
Third-seeded American Jessica Pegula also advanced, defeating Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-4. Pegula, one of the players still capable of overtaking Sabalenka at the top of the rankings in New York, will face compatriot Emma Navarro.
Navarro booked her place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Anna Kalinskaya.
The men's quarter-final line-up now includes Alcaraz against Shelton and Tiafoe against Michelsen, while the remaining quarter-final spots will be decided as the fourth-round action continues.