Carlos Alcaraz reaches US Open fourth round

Carlos Alcaraz has reached the US Open fourth round, continuing an impressive return after more than four months away from competition. The two-time champion now faces Tommy Paul for a place in the quarter-finals, in what should provide a stronger measure of his level.

Alcaraz defeated China’s Yibing Wu in the third round on Friday, giving up only one set across his opening three matches. Wu, ranked 113th in the world, struggled to impose his attacking game and made 33 unforced errors, including 17 in the second set. Alcaraz had also produced a commanding performance against Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the opening round.

The result keeps the third-ranked Alcaraz on course for another deep run in New York, where he won the title in 2022 and 2025. His next opponent earned his place by overcoming Alexander Bublik in five sets, recovering after trailing by two sets to one. Paul is ranked 21st in the world and arrives with a notable recent record against Bublik.

Alcaraz has won five of his most recent meetings with Paul and leads their overall rivalry 6-2. He also beat the American without dropping a set at the Australian Open this season, Roland-Garros in 2025 and the Paris Olympics in 2024. Their next meeting will be Alcaraz’s first genuinely demanding examination since his return.