Carlos Alcaraz faces Tommy Paul in US Open round of 16 on Sunday
The world number 3 seeks a spot in the New York quarterfinals against the 21st-ranked American, leading their head-to-head series 6-2 after returning from a wrist injury.
Fourth round meeting in New York
World number 3 Carlos Alcaraz faces world number 21 Tommy Paul on Sunday at 20:00 in the round of 16 at the US Open. Alcaraz returned to competition after an absence of nearly five months caused by a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from the Conde de Godo tournament in April. The Spanish player reached the fourth round with victories over Roman Safiullin (6-4, 6-4, 6-4), Jaime Faria (4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2), and Yibing Wu (6-3, 6-4, 6-1), conceding only one set in three matches. Paul advanced following three extended matches, defeating Chak Lam Coleman Wong (6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3), Dino Prizmic (6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4), and Alexander Bublik (6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3).
Head-to-head series and past encounters
The match is the ninth career encounter between Alcaraz and Paul on the ATP Tour, with Alcaraz holding six wins against two for Paul. Paul won their initial clash at the Canada Masters 1000 in 2022 and won again in the quarterfinals of the Canada Masters 1000 in 2023. Alcaraz defeated Paul at the Miami Masters 1000 in 2023 and has won all five of their subsequent encounters. Those five victories occurred in the round of 16 at Cincinnati in 2023, the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in 2024, the quarterfinals of Roland Garros in 2025, and the round of 16 at the 2026 Australian Open.
- Carlos Alcaraz
- 6
- Tommy Paul
- 2
- Paul defeats Alcaraz at the Canada Masters 1000
- Alcaraz defeats Paul at the Miami Masters 1000
- Paul defeats Alcaraz in the Canada Masters 1000 quarterfinals
- Alcaraz defeats Paul in the Cincinnati Masters 1000 round of 16
- Alcaraz defeats Paul in the Wimbledon quarterfinals
- Alcaraz defeats Paul at the Paris Olympic Games
- Alcaraz defeats Paul in the Roland Garros quarterfinals
- Alcaraz defeats Paul in the Australian Open round of 16
Alcaraz title defense and 2026 season
Alcaraz is pursuing a third US Open title after winning the championship in 2022 against Casper Ruud in four sets and in 2025 against Jannik Sinner in four sets. The last man to defend the US Open singles crown in consecutive years was Roger Federer, who won five straight titles between 2004 and 2008. Prior to his wrist injury, Alcaraz won titles at the Australian Open and Doha in 2026, and reached the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000. Following the elimination of Cristina Bucsa by Coco Gauff (6-3, 6-4), Alcaraz stands as the sole Spanish player remaining in either the men's or women's singles draws.
Paul season record and the tournament bracket
Paul has reached four ATP finals during the 2026 season, winning the title in Houston while finishing as runner-up in Delray Beach, Hamburg, and Queen's Club. In other tournaments this year, the American fell to Alcaraz in Melbourne, Arthur Fils in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals, and Flavio Cobolli in the Cincinnati Masters quarterfinals. The men's draw at Flushing Meadows proceeded without Sinner and saw the early elimination of Novak Djokovic. Other round of 16 fixtures include Alexander Zverev against Luciano Darderi, Daniil Medvedev against Frances Tiafoe, and Ben Shelton against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Spanish presence at the tournament continues in doubles through Bucsa partnering Nicole Melichar-Martinez, Sara Sorribes playing with Marie Bouzkova, and Marcel Granollers competing alongside Horacio Zeballos.
