ATP Tour

Alcaraz repels Wu challenge, sets Paul showdown at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz didn’t have it all his own way against a fellow big-hitting opponent on Friday afternoon at the US Open.

Yet the defending champion stood firm under pressure from a fearless, hit-or-miss Wu Yibing and ultimately powered to a resounding 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory to reach the fourth round at the hard-court major. Alcaraz, competing in his first event since April after a right wrist injury, is now riding a personal-best 17-match winning streak at Grand Slam level.

“I think today there was a really high rhythm,” Alcaraz said. “The way he plays is unbelievable, the rhythm he has on every shot: forehand, backhand. His balls skid a lot on the court and, for me, it’s really difficult to control sometimes. But I think I stayed there. I played aggressive, I played smart in the toughest moments.”

Alcaraz surrendered a break advantage in each of the opening two sets, which featured explosive forehands from both men, particularly Wu as he unloaded from his favoured wing. Although he was not at his absolute best, the 23-year-old Alcaraz kept applying pressure in return games and found another gear when it mattered, carving out a commanding two-set lead despite occasionally glancing towards his box with a look of desperation.

Wu, the No. 113 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, was outside the world’s Top 400 as recently as June last year after struggling with multiple injuries. But the 26-year-old, who became the first Chinese ATP titlist in history in 2023, tried not to go quietly.

In the opening game of the third set, Wu carved out two consecutive break point chances, but Alcaraz stood his ground and saved both of them to wrestle back the momentum and fire his way towards the fourth round. The World No. 3, who missed Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year, has now won his past 17 matches at majors, including his run to the Australian Open title this year, when at 22 he became the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam.

“I’m better than I thought,” Alcaraz responded when asked about his return from injury. “Physically, I thought I was going to be dead after the first match. But I’m recovering really well. I’m doing great things off the court just to be in good shape. Right now, I think my level is really good. I’ve got into the rhythm of the competition. Every time I step on the court, I give it my all.”

Alcaraz will next meet Tommy Paul in his title defence. The American overcame Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3 in a rollercoaster battle on Louis Armstrong Stadium, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

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Paul, who trails Alcaraz 2-6 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, is aiming to become the only active American man to reach the quarter-finals at all four major tournaments, having already achieved the feat at the Australian Open (2023, 2025), Roland Garros (2025) and Wimbledon (2024).