Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament’s top seed, surged past Tommy Paul in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open 2026. Yet, the 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5 victory was anything but simple, especially as the Spaniard found himself under early pressure.
A rocky start tests the top seed’s resolve
From the opening moments, spectators sensed the tension as Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm. Tommy Paul, seeded 19th, came out swinging, using powerful groundstrokes to keep Alcaraz behind the baseline and off-balance. The American broke Alcaraz’s serve in the opening game, quickly establishing a 4-2 lead and whispering doubts about the Spaniard’s form. It looked as though Paul might grab the first set, but Alcaraz’s hallmark resilience came to the fore. Just when the set seemed to be slipping away, Alcaraz began mixing in clever drop shots, drawing Paul forward and creating open spaces for precise winners. He broke back, leveled the set, and forced a tense tie-break.
The tie-break swung like a pendulum. Paul seized a mini-break, but couldn’t maintain momentum—critical errors, including a double fault on set point, gifted Alcaraz the breakthrough. Set one belonged to the Spaniard by the narrowest of margins: 8-6 in the tie-break.
Paul’s power dims as Alcaraz finds his groove
Paul, who had only returned recently from a three-month injury layoff at the end of last season, entered this match in respectable form—winning five of his last seven encounters. But the relentless nature of Grand Slam tennis requires more than sporadic flashes of brilliance. Over the final two sets, Paul’s inability to exert continuous pressure became glaringly apparent. Although Alcaraz is not known for possessing a fearsome serve, Paul could not generate a single break point opportunity in sets two and three.
- Alcaraz maintained composure on serve
- Fewer unforced errors in crucial games
- Notable shift to aggressive forecourt tactics
For Paul, the difference was painfully clear. Each set was decided by just a single service break, but in each case, it was Alcaraz who seized the moment. The match slipped away quickly, with Alcaraz compiling 35 winners over the course of nearly three hours.
Making history: Alcaraz’s quarterfinal consistency
With this victory, Alcaraz not only stayed perfect in sets but also marked his third consecutive year reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals. For all his consistency, however, he is still seeking his first semifinal appearance at Melbourne Park. The stakes are sky-high: should the 22-year-old top-seed claim the title, he would become the youngest player in history to complete the set of major championships—a ‘Career Grand Slam’—at this tender age.
- Alcaraz has now defeated Paul in 6 of 8 matchups
- Remains unbeaten in sets at the 2026 Australian Open
- Aiming to etch his name in history with a career-defining win
The hunger for history is palpable every time Alcaraz steps onto the court.
A looming battle: home favorite awaits
Next up for Alcaraz—a tantalizing duel with Australia’s own Alex de Minaur, who swept past 10th seed Alexander Bublik in commanding style, 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. De Minaur’s athleticism and crowd support promise a fiery quarterfinal showdown. Meanwhile, in the other half of Alcaraz’s semifinal bracket, third seed Alexander Zverev advanced smoothly with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 win over Francisco Cerundolo—further raising the stakes in this electric stage of the tournament.
- Home advantage for de Minaur could be a significant variable
- Alcaraz’s form makes him a clear favorite—but surprises abound on the Grand Slam stage