Carlos Alcaraz believes he can capture a second consecutive US Open title after shaking off any lingering injury concerns and cruising into the quarter-finals.
The 23-year-old reasserted his status as tournament favorite with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over American Tommy Paul after earlier playing down expectations in his first competitive test since a wrist injury sidelined him for nearly five months.
Now, though, the seven-time Grand Slam champ believes he has the game to go all the way.
“At the beginning of the tournament I didn’t have any expectations. I just came here to see how my body would react, especially my wrist, and above all to enjoy being back competing,” Alcaraz said. “After four really good matches, now I feel capable of winning the tournament.
“I still have the same expectations. I still have the same mentality of knowing that every time I step on court is a gift and it is a moment to enjoy.”
“It felt like he’s playing at a completely different level than me,” Paul said of the Spaniard. “I could have played a lot better and still lost.”
Alcaraz will next face American eighth seed Ben Shelton, who beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
In women’s singles, top seed Aryna Sabalenka beat American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-3 to set up a showdown with Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.
REUTERS
