Carlos Alcaraz won his 18th straight Grand Slam match on Sunday to close out the first week of his injury comeback to the US Open, with the world No. 3 trouncing Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard who did not play either Roland Garros or Wimbledon this year due to nearly five months of wrist injury absence, has not lost at a major since going out to Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon final.
Alcaraz dominated as he won his seventh match from nine played against American Paul to reach his 15th Grand quarter-final and his fifth here.
“In 2021 I made my first (Grand Slam) quarter-final,” Alcaraz said. “This is a special place for me.
“Every time I come here I play my best. It doesn’t matter if I was out for more than four months.”‘
The 23-year-old second seed claimed the first two sets and broke Paul for 2-1 on his fourth chance of the third game.
Alcaraz seized a 5-3 margin and finished off the straight-set success a game later even as he had to fight out of a 0-30 and saved two break points. Alcaraz has now won 14 consecutive sets against Paul, who has yet to reach the last eight here at his home major.
Paul also added to his deficit at the majors against top 10 players, with his record against the elite now standing a 0-10.
