US Open Day 8: Carlos levels up against Paul as Sabalenka sets up Pegula clash

Statement victory alert! Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Tommy Paul in straight sets to reach another US Open quarter-final, but did this finally prove he was the clear favourite to defend his title, or was Paul simply not good enough to ask the right questions? Join Joel and Kim at Tennis Weekly HQ for our US Open Day 8 catch-up as we debate whether Alcaraz has now found his best level of the tournament. We also discuss yet another Nike x Cactus Jack outfit, including the controversial switch from coffee to white. Did Alcaraz play it a bit too safe with this one, and which of his US Open kits has been the best so far?

Aryna Sabalenka also reached the quarter-finals after overcoming Taylor Townsend in a see-saw 6-4, 6-3 battle, with 11 of the 19 games ending in breaks. Was Sabalenka really as comfortable as the scoreline suggested? Her serve and Townsend’s struggles at the net gave us plenty to debate. Plus, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova reached her first US Open quarter-final after a thriller against Marta Kostyuk. Can she really trouble Sabalenka, or will she simply be too knackered after a three-hour epic? We also discuss Ben Shelton ending the 149-year men’s single-handed backhand streak, Frances Tiafoe’s love for Louis Armstrong (10-0 now!) after a statement straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev, the all-American ‘Battle of the Billionaires’ Pegula vs Navarro quarter-final and look ahead to Osaka vs Rybakina and Gauff vs Jovic on Day 9.

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