Tommy Paul is set to face Carlos Alcaraz in a highly anticipated rematch at the U.S. Open, with the American expressing a desire for redemption. This marks the fourth Grand Slam matchup between the two players.
Alcaraz, the second seed, defeated Paul in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January. Despite the straight-sets loss for Paul, the match was reportedly competitive.
"We’ve had some good matches — one really, really bad beatdown at the French Open," Paul stated after his recent victory over Alexander Bublik. "But, I mean, he’s the best, him and [Jannik] Sinner. They have been playing great, and I guess Carlos we haven’t really seen too much [due to injury], but obviously doing pretty well coming right back to competition."
Paul acknowledged the challenge ahead, adding, "I mean, I’m going to have to play some pretty good tennis if I want to win that match, but I’m going to do my best. Hopefully I can."
Paul, the 20th seed, demonstrated his capability by recently defeating top seed Alexander Zverev at the Cincinnati Open. He secured his place in the upcoming match against Alcaraz with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3 win against No. 15 Alexander Bublik.
In other U.S. Open developments, American Jessica Pegula overcame an early deficit to advance. Pegula, the third seed, lost the first set to No. 31 Leylah Fernandez of Canada but rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"That’s pretty much the summary right there: slow start, strong finish," Pegula commented on her match. "I mean, the [first] set I played today, I can’t honestly be that much worse. It was pretty not great on all those stats and everything. So I was, like, ‘It can’t be that much worse, I’m going to have to kind of find something here,’ and I think I always tell myself just to try and hang on to my serve."
Pegula saved eight of nine break points across the final two sets and is scheduled to face Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the next round.
Unseeded American Alex Michelsen also progressed, defeating Daniel Merida Aguilar with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3. Michelsen will face No. 27 Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the Round of 16.