Tommy Paul Sends Warning to Carlos Alcaraz Ahead of US Open Clash: “I Want to Bring Out My Best Tennis”

Tommy Paul has yet to win a match in straight sets in the ongoing US Open. The American ace, after overcoming Coleman Wong and Dino Prizmic in four sets, outlasted 15th seed Alexander Bublik 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3 in the third round.

And now, he is waiting for perhaps the toughest match of this tournament. Because he will be squaring off against none other than Carlos Alcaraz. The defending champion, after cruising past Roman Safiullin, came from a set down to eliminate Jaime Faria before dispatching Wu Yibing to schedule his match against Paul.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has met Paul eight times, winning six of those matches. They, in fact, have only met in the high-profile events (thrice in Majors, four times in Masters 1000s, and once at the Olympics), and most of these matches were tight affairs. The Spaniard is on a five-match winning streak against Paul.

It’s crazy to play against Carlos again. I would say he is the player I have faced the most on the tour. We’ve had great battles, but he’s also given me a beating. Both he and [Jannik] Sinner are the great dominators and the big test for the rest. I am going to give my best. I want to bring out my best tennis because I know I will need it to beat him.

Tommy Paul said at the press conference

They will be facing each other for the second time this season, following their clash in the fourth round of the Australian Open, which Alcaraz won in straight sets and went on to reach the final and beat Novak Djokovic to become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Alcaraz next won the Qatar Open and lost to Sinner in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters. The five-time Grand Slam champion, who has already lifted six Big Titles, including Wimbledon, is nursing a knee injury and withdrew from the US Open, where he finished as the runner-up last year.

Carlos Alcaraz on what surprised him about himself after comeback

Carlos Alcaraz injured his wrist during the Barcelona Open and was forced to stay on the sidelines for nearly five months. The US Open is his first tournament since the Barcelona Open. At the press conference after his latest win, the 23-year-old was asked what the biggest surprises were for him about his expectations coming into the last Grand Slam event of the season.

Obviously, after four months without competing, without any matches, when you go out there and compete in official match with the nerves and everything… So after the match, the day right after, your body can feel really tight, and it didn’t happen to me. So I just feel better and better after every match. It feels like I’ve been competing the whole time. So I surprised myself the way that I’m feeling and the way that I’m recovering after every match.

If Alcaraz beats Tommy Paul, he will lock horns with Ben Shelton or a resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals. Shelton met Tsitsipas just once before and lost that match.

Alcaraz is chasing his third title in the New York Slam, where, back in 2022, he beat Casper Ruud to win his first Grand Slam title. Due to the wrist injury, he was forced to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon this season.

Even if the 23-year-old defends the title, he won’t be able to remove Jannik Sinner from the No.1 ranking. Alcaraz lost his top spot to the Italian ace after losing in Monte Carlo.

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