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NEW YORK: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will be under the microscope again on Sunday taking on 20th-seeded American Tommy Paul for a place in the US Open quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
The Spaniard, playing his first tournament since a four-month absence with a wrist injury, acknowledges he has yet to play his best but says he\u2019s \u201cgetting there\u201d with both the sharpness of his shots and his on-court decision making.<\/p>\n
He headlines a day that also features women\u2019s two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and third-ranked American Jessica Pegula \u2014 just one of the players with a chance to supplant Sabalenka atop the world rankings in New York.<\/p>\n
Surprise Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova will try to continue her progress toward another Grand Slam against dangerous Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk while US hope Frances Tiafoe faces the always tricky former champion Daniil Medvedev.<\/p>\n
AFP Sport looks at three matches to watch on Day 8 of the US Open:<\/p>\n
Tommy Paul (USA x20) v Carlos Alcaraz (ESP x2)<\/strong><\/p>\n Alcaraz leads head to head 6-2<\/p>\n \u2014 Although Alcaraz has dominated their meetings \u2014 Paul\u2019s last win over the Spaniard was back in 2023 \u2014 the defending champion said the American is \u201creally dangerous for everyone on the tour.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way he plays, the way he hits the ball, it\u2019s really complicated to dominate the ball, dominate the points,\u201d said Alcaraz, who won their last meeting in the Australian open quarter-finals on the way to the title that made him the youngest man to claim a career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n Alcaraz said he was looking forward to another great battle \u2014 and having some fun.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pull off great points, great shots,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be really fun to watch, fun to play, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben Shelton (USA X8) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)<\/strong><\/p>\n Tsitsipas leads head to head 1-0<\/p>\n \u2014 A resurgent Tsitsipas has Shelton\u2019s attention. The former top-five player from Greece upset red-hot Arthur Fils in the first round and ousted 18th-seeded Jiri Lehecka in the third and is deeper into a Grand Slam than he\u2019s been in more than two years.<\/p>\n Playing pain free after back problems derailed his 2025 campaign, the two-time Grand Slam finalist is also working with a new coach, having replaced his father Apostolos in that role.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been watching his matches,\u201d Shelton said. \u201cI think he\u2019s playing great. I think that his style of tennis can be very, very effective on all surfaces, all-court game, great athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n Shelton said his three four-set wins in the first three rounds — against Tallon Griekspoor, Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov \u2014 had him well prepared for anything Tsitsipas might throw at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is a great way to start the tournament in terms of variety. I have dealt with a lefty, dealt with a big hitter, dealt with a feel guy, dealt with a massive server, dealt with a spot server, serve and volleyer.\u201d<\/p>\n Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) v Taylor Townsend (USA)<\/strong><\/p>\n First meeting<\/p>\n \u2014 Sabalenka knows she\u2019ll be in hostile territory when she takes on 96th-ranked American Townsend on Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019m ready for the crowd situation,\u201d Sabalenka said. \u201cShe\u2019s, I\u2019d say, tricky player, because she brings the variety — comes to the net, really make you think during the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Townsend is in the fourth round for a second straight year, but it has been anything but a straightforward 12 months for the 30-year-old, who says she has \u201cbeen through a lot over this past year.\u201d It hasn\u2019t dimmed her desire to win, and Townsend said she was \u201cpumped\u201d to take on Sabalenka in a quest for a first Grand Slam singles quarter-final.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m built for these moments,\u201d Townsend, a three-time Grand Slam doubles winner, said. \u201cI\u2019m ready to take it. I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n