US Open 2025: Alcaraz cruises to R4 after four-month injury return
Synopsis
Four months on the sidelines, one set dropped in three matches — Carlos Alcaraz's US Open comeback has surprised even himself. With Tommy Paul next across the net and his body responding better than expected, the Spaniard looks like a genuine contender at Flushing Meadows once again.
Key Takeaways
Carlos Alcaraz has reached the US Open fourth round after returning from a four-month right wrist injury layoff.
The 23-year-old Spaniard has dropped just one set across his first three matches in New York .
His only set loss came against Jaime Faria in the second round.
Alcaraz leads Tommy Paul 6-2 in their ATP Head2Head record ahead of their fourth-round encounter.
Paul arrives in form, having beaten Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati last month while saving a match point.
Carlos Alcaraz has admitted his comeback from a four-month injury layoff has 'surprised' even him, with the 23-year-old Spaniard reaching the US Open fourth round having dropped just one set across his opening three matches in New York. The former champion returned from a right wrist injury that kept him off the Tour for an extended spell, and by his own account, the physical response has exceeded expectations.
A Comeback That Has Defied Expectations
Alcaraz acknowledged pre-tournament uncertainty about how his body would hold up under Grand Slam conditions. Those doubts have been emphatically answered. 'It didn't happen to me. I am feeling better and better after every match. It feels like I have been competing the whole time. So it surprised me the way that I'm feeling and the way that I'm recovering after every match,' Alcaraz said.
He added: 'I'm just really happy about how I'm able to perform at my best after every match. Doesn't matter if I'm playing four or three sets. So I'm just really happy about it.'
Scoreboard Flatters, But the Court Tells a Different Story
Alcaraz has conceded only one set so far — against Jaime Faria in the second round — but was quick to caution against reading his progress as comfortable. 'The scores can say it was pretty easy, but for me and the way that I felt on the court, it was really tough and really demanding physically in terms of tennis,' he said. 'It was really difficult. I'm not thinking that everything is coming easy.'
He stressed the mental discipline underpinning his run: 'I'm feeling that every point and every game, I had to earn it. It is a way to keep myself with my feet on the ground and thinking point after point and trying to do my best in every situation of the match.'
Fourth-Round Test: Tommy Paul Awaits
Alcaraz is scheduled to face American Tommy Paul in the fourth round, a player he leads 6-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head record. Despite the favourable ledger, Alcaraz is not taking the match lightly. Paul arrives in form, notably defeating Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati last month — a win that included saving a match point.
'He's a really talented player, really difficult one to play,' Alcaraz said of Paul. 'He's really dangerous for everyone on the Tour. The way he plays, the way he hits the ball, it's really complicated to dominate the ball and dominate the points.'
Alcaraz Relishing the Rivalry
Despite the competitive stakes, Alcaraz struck an upbeat tone about facing Paul again. 'I'm excited. I'm really looking forward to playing him once again. Great battles. He's such a nice guy. We just feel like we're having fun, we pull off great points, great shots. It's going to be really fun to watch, fun to play, as well,' he said.
With his body responding well and his game sharpening with each outing, Alcaraz appears well-placed to mount a deep run at Flushing Meadows as the second week of the tournament gets underway.
Point of View
But the real signal will come against Paul — an opponent capable of disrupting rhythm and extracting physical cost over five sets. The right wrist injury that sidelined him for four months is not a footnote; it is the variable every opponent will probe. His insistence that the scorelines flattered him is the kind of self-awareness that separates champions from pretenders, and it suggests he is managing his return intelligently rather than riding early-round momentum into complacency. The second week will tell us whether this is a full recovery or a managed one.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How has Carlos Alcaraz performed at the US Open 2025 after his injury return?
Alcaraz has reached the fourth round of the US Open 2025, dropping just one set across three matches after returning from a four-month right wrist injury. He has described his physical recovery as better than expected.
What injury kept Alcaraz out before the US Open?
Alcaraz was sidelined for four months due to a right wrist injury that kept him away from competitive Tour tennis. He returned at the US Open in New York.
Who does Alcaraz face in the US Open fourth round?
Alcaraz is set to face American Tommy Paul in the fourth round. Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 6-2, but Paul arrives in form after beating Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati last month.
What did Alcaraz say about his comeback at the US Open?
Alcaraz said his recovery has 'surprised' him, noting he feels 'better and better after every match.' He also cautioned that the scorelines did not reflect how physically demanding his matches have been.
How did Tommy Paul prepare for the fourth-round clash with Alcaraz?
Paul enters the fourth round with strong recent form, including a victory over Alexander Zverev in Cincinnati where he saved a match point. Alcaraz has called him 'really dangerous for everyone on the Tour.'
