Two-time
Alcaraz’s performance against Wu was his 27th career victory at the US Open, placing him in elite company. He now ties Pete Sampras for the third-most wins by any man in his first six appearances at the tournament during the Open era, trailing only John McEnroe with 33 and Lleyton Hewitt with 29. Despite committing 33 unforced errors—19 of which came from his forehand—Alcaraz remained in control, dropping serve only twice throughout the match.
A high-stakes clash against Tommy Paul
The path to a potential title defense now leads Alcaraz to a fourth-round encounter with American Tommy Paul. Paul earned his spot in the round of 16 after a grueling five-set battle against the No. 15 seed, Alexander Bublik. The American secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3 victory, matching his career-best performance at the US Open. This win represents only the second time in his career that Paul has defeated a top-15 seeded opponent in a completed major match.
Reflecting on the upcoming challenge, Paul acknowledged the difficulty of facing the two-time champion, who holds a 6-2 head-to-head record and has won their last five meetings. While Alcaraz is a crowd favorite globally, Paul is hoping for significant support from the home fans in New York. The US Open remains the only major tournament where Paul has yet to reach the quarterfinals, a barrier he is eager to break.
Alcaraz’s momentum and tournament context
Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the first man to successfully defend the US Open title since Roger Federer’s five-year reign from 2004 to 2008, appears to be recovering well from his injury. Following his victory, he expressed optimism about his physical condition, stating he feels better than he initially anticipated. His recent form remains formidable, with 30 wins in his last 31 major matches, his only defeat in that span coming against Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon final.
Elsewhere in the draw, 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev continued his steady progress, defeating Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. The No. 7 seed now awaits the winner of the match between Frances Tiafoe and Valentin Vacherot. As the tournament enters its second week, the focus shifts to the marquee matchup between Alcaraz and Paul, with both players looking to secure a place in the quarterfinals.
