Carlos Alcaraz continued his remarkable return to Grand Slam tennis with quarter-finals at the 2026 US Open and also in the history books with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. The defending champion produced a dominant performance against 20th seed Tommy Paul on Sunday, September 6, defeating him in straight sets at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz needed just two hours and 21 minutes to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 over Paul. That victory not only put the Spaniard in the final eight in New York but also marked another significant career success in an already lengthy career that has seen him win Grand Slam titles and many more.
The 23-year-old is at the US Open after a tough time away from the sport. An injury sidelined him from the French Open and Wimbledon in the summer and his run in New York will be crucial to regain his best on the biggest stage.
With the quarter-final victory, Alcaraz reached the last eight of a Grand Slam tournament for the 15th time in his career. He’s achieved the same goal in 21 major matches, making him one of the fastest players in the Open Era to attain the mark.
Only McEnroe reached 15 Grand Slam quarter-finals faster according to Opta. The American needed just 20 Grand Slam appearances to reach his 15th quarter-final and did so at the 1984 Wimbledon Championships. Alcaraz's 21st Grand Slam appearance puts him just one tournament behind the former world No. 1.
The Spaniard has also made history based on his age. He is now the second-youngest player in the Open Era to reach 15 Grand Slam quarter-finals, only Borg achieved the feat at a younger age. The difference between the two is reportedly just 40 days, which highlights how remarkable Alcaraz’s consistency at the majors has been at such a young age.
The latest feat only bolsters Alcaraz’s growing reputation as one of the most accomplished young players in men’s tennis history. He is only 23 and has already won so many Grand Slams and has rewritten age-related records.
Alcaraz’s 2026 season has already been historic. Earlier in the year, he became the youngest person in tennis history to complete a career Grand Slam, adding the Australian Open title to his collection. That victory also took him to seven Grand Slams - a remarkable feat for his age.
His latest success in New York has now opened the door to another major landmark. If Alcaraz wins the US Open this time around he will win his eighth Grand Slam title and in doing so will cement himself as one of the greatest ever in the game.
But the Spaniard's path to another championship will not get easier. He will meet another American, Ben Shelton, in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, September 8. Shelton will have the support of the home crowd and has the power and athleticism to challenge Alcaraz on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.
For Alcaraz, this match will be another opportunity to demonstrate that his recovery from injury has been successful. After missing two Grand Slam tournaments he has straight away returned to his winning rhythm and is just three wins from another Grand Slam trophy.
This US Open quarter-final against Shelton will be of great significance beyond just reaching the semi-finals. Alcaraz is going to be chasing another title, another record and another chapter in a career that has already been moving along very quickly.
His victory over Paul showed that the defending champion remains well in the mix in New York. Now that he is listed with Borg and McEnroe in many historical categories, Alcaraz has proved again why he is considered as one of the most important players of his generation.
