Alcaraz reaches the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year

Can Carlos Alcaraz break through this stage for the first time to pursue completing the Career Grand Slam?

Carlos Alcaraz continues to demonstrate impressive form at the 2026 Australian Open by defeating Tommy Paul in three sets, securing his spot in the quarterfinals and matching his best result at Melbourne Park.

The world No.1 won 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5 against the American opponent on Rod Laver Arena. Notably, Alcaraz has yet to lose a set since the tournament began, showing remarkable consistency and resilience on his path to a major goal: winning the Australian Open title and becoming the youngest player ever to complete the Career Grand Slam with all four major titles.

The match was challenging for Alcaraz, especially in the first set. He fell behind early, trailing Paul 4-2. However, the Spanish player adjusted in time and patiently pushed the set to a tie-break. At 3-3 in the tie-break, the match was paused for a significant medical incident in the stands, disrupting the rhythm for both players.

Despite this, Alcaraz capitalized on his chances better. Paul made a crucial double fault at Carlitos’ second set point, allowing the world No.1 to close the set by a narrow margin. In the final two sets, the Spanish star maintained pressure with powerful shots and superior court control, ultimately winning the match after more than three hours of play.

"I think he started well. He hit very heavy shots that gave me trouble, but I stayed composed and knew I would get my chances.", Alcaraz shared. "Both of us played high-level tennis, and I’m happy to have won convincingly in three sets."

A major highlight for Carlitos this tournament is his improved serve. Against Paul, he achieved an average first serve success rate of 70%, higher than the tournament average.

"I’m surprising myself. I’ve practiced my serve for a long time, and it’s great to see the progress.", the 2003-born player said.

In the quarterfinals, Carlos Alcaraz will face the winner between Alex De Minaur and Alexander Bublik, aiming to continue his historic journey in Melbourne.