Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tommy Paul to reach the US Open quarter-finals, while Aryna Sabalenka advanced after a challenging victory over Taylor Townsend.

Carlos Alcaraz continued his US Open title defense by defeating 20th seed Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. The victory marks a significant step in Alcaraz's comeback following a four-and-a-half-month layoff due to a wrist injury. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the quarter-finals after overcoming Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 in a match that saw her rally from a second-set deficit.

Alcaraz's Return to Form

Alcaraz entered the tournament with questions regarding his readiness for the best-of-five-set format after his extended absence. Following a third-round win where he expressed dissatisfaction with his forehand, the Spaniard focused on practice to refine his game. His performance against Paul was characterized by a dominant forehand, and he noted that he has reached at least the quarter-finals in every US Open appearance since 2021.

Sabalenka and Noskova Set for Quarter-Final

Aryna Sabalenka’s path to the quarter-finals included a difficult match against Taylor Townsend, during which she dropped her serve four times and trailed 1-3 in the second set before winning the final five games. Sabalenka is set to face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the next round. Noskova advanced after a three-set victory over 11th seed Marta Kostyuk, winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 after saving and converting multiple match points.