Spain's Carlos Alcaraz defeated American Tommy Paul, seeded 20th, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a match packed with powerful shots on Sunday, advancing to the quarterfinals of the US Open as he seeks to defend his title.
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Alcaraz, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, recovered his best form in New York after nearly a five-month absence due to a right wrist injury, extending his winning streak in Grand Slams to 18 matches with a stunning display of ball-striking against another player known for his own power.
Alcaraz's serve came under pressure in the third set when Paul unleashed a brilliant forehand at 100 mph around the net, sending the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd into a frenzy, but the Spaniard held firm before striking at the decisive moment to seize the first set.
Alcaraz, 23, then hit a powerful crosscourt shot to quickly move ahead 2-0, before trading a break of serve with Paul and cruising through the remaining sets to complete a commanding win.
Despite most of the crowd in the main stadium hoping for an American to win the title, second seed Alcaraz kept up his strong performance, moving closer to a 13-0 record against American players across the last four Grand Slams.
After easing off the pace slightly, his level wavered briefly near the end, but he regathered his composure to deliver the decisive blow and book his spot in the next round against either American Ben Shelton or Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.
