NEW YORK — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals again at the US Open, and Sunday, he made it look easy.
Alcaraz posted an afternoon victory in straight sets, defeating Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the second match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“I’m happy with that performance,” Alcaraz said. “I played my game. I tried to play my style. Tommy’s such a talented player. His shots are pretty dangerous, and it’s sometimes pretty difficult to control the ball when it comes to you, so I just tried to be ready.”
Playing his first tournament after a four-month absence because of a right wrist injury, Alcaraz said last week he would not be coming back if he could not play like his usual self. The Spaniard, 23, has made good on that so far, dropping just one set through four rounds.
Alcaraz dictated play on the way to extending his Grand Slam winning streak to 18. When Paul was making things interesting in the third set, Alcaraz set up match point by hitting a shot so perfectly in bounds that it left actor Matthew McConaughey in disbelief, along with many others in the crowd.
Asked if he thinks he is back to form, Alcaraz responded, “I think so.” The US Open is bringing that out in him.
“I’m just trying to enjoy my time on the court,” Alcaraz said. “It doesn’t matter that I was out 4½ months. Every time that I come here, I play my best.”
The layoff has built up Alcaraz’s confidence. In fact, earlier in the tournament, he told reporters that he’s planning to take more breaks within the tennis season.
“It feels like I’ve been competing the whole time. So, I surprise myself the way that I’m feeling and the way that I’m recovering after every match,” Alcaraz said. “So, I’m just really happy about it that I’m able to perform at my best after every match.”
As for who he plays next, that was one test Alcaraz couldn’t pass Sunday.
He was surprised to learn during an interview on ESPN after his victory that his quarterfinal match would be against either Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The defending champion visited the set after beating Paul. Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, asked Alcaraz about the challenges either player would present.
A confused Alcaraz asked him to repeat the question.
“You’re either going to play Shelton or Tsitsipas,” Roddick said. “Maybe just a word on both of them and the challenges …”
He didn’t get to finish the sentence because Alcaraz leaned over to look at the paper in front of Roddick.
“Really? Oh my God, I thought I was playing Medvedev-Tiafoe,” Alcaraz said, before both men started laughing.
Frances Tiafoe beat Daniil Medvedev in their match that was going on during the interview, but he now plays Alex Michelsen.
Shelton, the No. 8 seed, went on to beat Tsitsipas in straight sets Sunday night.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.