Sport
Alcaraz outguns Paul to reach US Open quarter-finals
Defending champ Sabalenka, Noskova book quarter-final showdown with confident wins
Carlos Alcaraz beat American 20th seed Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 6-4 in a high-voltage hit-fest on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open and remain firmly on track for back-to-back titles at Flushing Meadows.
The seven-times Grand Slam champion has hit top form in New York after nearly five months out with a right wrist injury and extended his major match-winning streak to 18 with a stunning display of shotmaking against a fellow big-hitter.
Alcaraz’s serve came under pressure in the third game when Paul fired an exquisite 100 mph forehand winner around the net that brought Arthur Ashe Stadium to its feet, but the Spaniard stood firm before striking late to snatch the opening set.
The 23-year-old left a vapour trail with a crosscourt winner to carve out an early opening in the second set and swiftly took a 2-0 lead, before trading breaks with Paul and breezing through the remaining games for a commanding lead.
Even with much of the showcourt crowd yearning for a home winner, second seed Alcaraz continued to steal the show with his audacious play and moved to the brink of improving his win-loss record against American players at the Grand Slams to 13-0.
After shifting down to cruise mode, Alcaraz briefly flinched at the finish line but he regrouped to deliver the knockout blow and set up a meeting with American Ben Shelton or Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round.
Earlier, two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka subdued American Taylor Townsend in straight sets yesterday to book a quarter-final clash with Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova. Sabalenka rallied from 3-1 down in the second set for a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Sabalenka needed all of her resolve against the multi-faceted Townsend, whose blistering service returns and net prowess flummoxed the Belarusian star in a first set that opened with five breaks of serve. Sabalenka managed a comfortable hold for a 4-2 lead and eventually her sustained power and precision proved a little too much.
"What an incredible player she is, approaching the net, what a great returner, moving well, very brave,” Sabalenka said after her first meeting with the fiery player from Chicago. "You can see how focused she was and it was really challenging playing her, especially here.”
The second set unfolded in more traditional style, neither player facing a break point through the first three games. It was Sabalenka who blinked first. Looking rattled after smacking a forehand into the net to give Townsend a break point, Sabalenka offered up a weak second serve that Townsend punished with a return winner for a break and a 3-1 lead. Sabalenka immediately broke back, however, launching a run of five straight games to take the match.
"I was like, OK, you’re down the break just try to return the serve and put as much pressure as you can on her,” Sabalenka said. "I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball and I’m happy that I was able to turn around that second set.”
The Belarusian, who must win to have a chance of retaining her number one status in New York, will face sixth-seeded Czech Noskova for a place in the semi-finals. Noskova needed six match points to seal a 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, failing to convert two in the second set. "I am more than relieved,” Noskova said. "This match was so tough, emotionally more so than physically.”