Let's be honest, right? Tennis fans might have been worried about the possibility that Carlos Alcaraz could repeat his 2025 US Open title in 2026 because he hadn't played since April due to a wrist injury. We also know that an Alcaraz at 60 percent is better than 90 percent of the ATP Tour.
His winning in the early rounds in New York against lesser players shouldn't have come as a surprise. It won't be until the quarterfinals or later that he would truly be tested, and that might have been the case whether he hurt his wrist at the Barcelona Open or not. His raw skill is just too overpowering for most.
After he dropped a set in the second round of the major, the only set he had lost through two rounds, Alcaraz took on Wu Yibing. The Chinese player has decent power and decent movement, but the Spaniard at his best has historically great movement and shot-making. In other words, Yibing should have been no match for Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz toys with Wu Yibing before moving on at the US Open
The first set was brutal. The score was just 6-3 in favor of the ATP No. 3, but Alcaraz got a break early and eased his way into the second round. He certainly wasn't going to stress himself or his wrist until he absolutely needed to later in the tournament.
In the second set, Yibing kept things close through much of it, but Alcaraz knew he had time on his side. He wasn't going to lose. The question was how quickly he wanted to exert enough energy to end things.
At the end of a relatively close second set, Alcaraz did what great players do. He got a break and took the set 6-4. The Spaniard losing from two sets down at a Grand Slam is nearly impossible, and the only question was whether Yibing would win a set at all.
He wouldn't Alcaraz was in no mood to play with his tennis food in the third set. He got the breaks he needed in a well-played set, and even though Yibing didn't give in easily, he was no match for the exquisite shot-making ability of Alcaraz. The Spaniard jumped out to a 5-1 lead, and while the Chinese player resisted in the final game, Alcaraz held to take set three 6-1.
Carlos Alcaraz will next play Tommy Paul in the round of 16 at the US Open. The two players have played eight times before, and Alcaraz has won six of the meetings. That includes the last six, since Paul won in 2023 at the Canadian Open.
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