Carlos Alcaraz dismantled Tommy Paul at the US Open, prompting former world number one Andy Roddick to express genuine alarm over the Spaniard’s blistering form following a four-month injury layoff.
Coming into the tournament match at Flushing Meadows, analysts expected a stern test for Alcaraz after a relatively straightforward opening three rounds. Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the American tennis icon pointed out just how ominous it was to see Alcaraz performing at such an elite level so soon after returning to the tour.
Roddick Highlights Alcaraz’s Efficiency Against Paul
According to Roddick, the most unsettling aspect of the match was not just that Alcaraz won, but how helpless his opponent looked despite playing decent tennis. “Carlos rolled Tommy Paul today, and I felt Tommy Paul played okay. That is the scary thing,” Roddick said on his podcast.
Roddick detailed watching the match from the broadcast desk, observing how Alcaraz dictated play from the outset. In the opening games, the Spaniard struck blistering winners from well outside the baseline. While spectators marveled at the highlight-reel shots, Roddick noted that dictating play with such high-risk aggression usually signals a player searching for answers—yet Alcaraz converted them with clinical precision.
Forehand and Serve Fire on All Cylinders
Entering the tournament, lingering questions surrounded Alcaraz’s right wrist, the very injury that forced him out of competition for four months. Any doubts regarding his health vanished under the lights in New York. Roddick observed that while Alcaraz’s forehand occasionally misfired during the opening week, every technical component clicked into place against Paul.
Statistics underscored the dominance: Alcaraz tallied 17 winners against 10 unforced errors off his forehand wing. Roddick noted that the flat numbers actually flattered his opponent, failing to capture the moments where Alcaraz’s sheer power bullied opponents into defensive errors. The serve matched the groundstrokes, with Alcaraz firing through 17 out of 20 first-serve points in a lopsided third set.
Navigating a Brutal US Open Draw
While rivals on the opposite side navigated smoother paths toward the later rounds, Alcaraz faces a formidable test against the raw power and serving arsenal of Ben Shelton.
