Alcaraz advanced past Paul in straight sets, reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.

On January 25, 2026, at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz overcame 19th seed Tommy Paul 7-6(6), 6-4, 7-5, decisively advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals and improving his match record in this tournament to 12 consecutive wins.

This match was Alcaraz’s most demanding test at this Australian Open. Paul started aggressively, taking a 4-2 lead with sharp flat shots, and the two engaged in fierce exchanges in the first set. In the tiebreak, Paul saved a set point with a backhand down the line but then committed a double fault, handing the first set to Alcaraz.

At Grand Slam level, top players rarely give away opportunities. After missing his chance in the first set, Paul had little chance of winning a set.

Riding the momentum, Alcaraz pressed on and secured a crucial break in the third game of the second set, repeatedly hitting forehand winners combining spin and pace that amazed the crowd. Although Paul fought hard to save three break points in the third game of the third set, he failed to hold serve in the eleventh game, allowing Alcaraz to break for the third time and then hold serve to seal the victory.

The match lasted 2 hours and 44 minutes, with Alcaraz hitting 35 winners and improving his head-to-head record against Paul to 6-2. Up next, he will face the winner between home favorite Deminal and Bublik in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, this win brings Alcaraz closer to becoming the youngest player to win a career Grand Slam, a record currently held by Spanish legend Nadal. The 22-year-old top seed is crafting a new legacy with his dominant performance on Melbourne’s hard courts.

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