Carlos Alcaraz finally looked like the player who conquered Flushing Meadows twelve months ago, dismantling Tommy Paul in a commanding straight-sets display to set up a blockbuster quarter-final clash with Ben Shelton.

The Spanish phenom, playing his first tournament since a wrist injury curtailed his season in April, delivered his most emphatic performance of the comeback on Sunday, dispatching the 20th-seeded American 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

“I played my game,” said the second seed, whose 33 winners and fluid court coverage left Paul chasing shadows during the two-hour 20-minute encounter. “Tommy is such a talented player. His shots are pretty dangerous and sometimes it’s really difficult to control the ball when it comes to you. I just tried to be ready for a battle and tried to be aggressive all the time.”

Alcaraz seizes control

The turning point arrived in the dying embers of a tightly-contested opening set, Alcaraz snatching the crucial break to pocket it 6-4. From that moment, the defending champion shifted through the gears.

Two breaks in the second set gave him a stranglehold on proceedings before an early strike in the third left Paul staring down the barrel. The American showed commendable resistance, creating two break-back opportunities in the final game, but Alcaraz’s class shone through, a swinging forehand volley saved the second break point before a thunderous forehand winner sealed the deal on his first match point.

“I’m really happy with the performance today,” Alcaraz beamed.

Shelton primed for fireworks

Standing between Alcaraz and the semi-finals is red-hot compatriot Shelton, who produced his most complete performance of the fortnight to dismantle former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

The American, who needed four sets in each of his opening three matches, found another level against the Greek, hammering a dozen aces and never facing a single break point in a dominant one-hour 52-minute clinic.

“I played a complete match from start to finish,” said Shelton, who captured the ATP Montreal Masters title during a stellar August run. Looking ahead to Tuesday’s quarter-final, he added: “The level that he’s been playing at is really, really impressive. To not play for five months then do what he’s done so far this tournament has been super-human. I think it’s going to be fireworks on Tuesday night.”

Sabalenka stays on track for historic three peat

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid for a rare US Open three-peat alive with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-3 victory over American Taylor Townsend.

The Belarusian world number one whose top ranking is under threat in New York, needed all her mental fortitude against the multi-faceted Townsend, whose blistering service returns and predatory net play caused havoc early on. The opening set featured five consecutive service breaks before Sabalenka’s power and precision began to tell.

Trailing 3-1 in the second set, the two-time defending champion clicked into gear, reeling off five consecutive games to seal victory.

“I was just trying to stay focused on myself and play not only point by point but ball by ball,” Sabalenka said. “I’m happy that I was able to turn around that second set.”

Noskova survives marathon

Awaiting Sabalenka in the quarter-finals is sixth-ranked Czech Linda Noskova, the Wimbledon champion who survived a gripping three-set battle with dangerous Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, prevailing 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

Noskova required six match points to close out the victory, squandering two in the second set before finally converting in a match that tested her mentally as much as physically.

“I am more than relieved,” Noskova admitted. “This match was so tough, emotionally more so than physically.”