This Week in Tennis: Alcaraz Back In Top Form

Welcome to This Week in Tennis, where we catch up on all the latest and biggest stories from the ATP and WTA Tours.

Alcaraz Eases Into US Open Quarter-Final

Carlos Alcaraz was out of action for over four months, but you’d never know it.

The former world No. 1 returned to the US Open to defend his title after a long layoff due to a wrist injury and has not missed a beat on his path to the quarter-final.

Alcaraz has run through the competition in New York, dropping just one set through four matches, with his latest win coming against home favourite Tommy Paul in the round of 16.

The Spaniard now carries an 18-match win streak at Grand Slams, dating back to his 2025 US Open win and including his victory at the Australian Open this past January, where he completed the career Grand Slam.

The 23-year-old will try to continue his dominant return from injury in the quarter-final against two-time National Bank Open champion Ben Shelton.

The other men’s quarter-final matches include: Frances Tiafoe vs. Alex Michelsen, Karen Khachanov vs. Alexander Blockx, and Alexander Zverev vs. Botic van de Zandschulp.

‘Comeback Queen’ Zheng Strikes Twice to Reach QF

Qinwen Zheng is finally getting her career back on track.

The former world No. 4 lost more than a year of her career after chronic elbow pain that started before Wimbledon in 2024 forced her to undergo surgery in the summer of 2025. Zheng, the gold medal winner at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, dropped all the way to No. 121 entering this year’s US Open and needed to go through qualifying to earn her spot in the main draw.

So far, she’s made the most of her opportunity.

Zheng has pulled off captivating comebacks in both of her past two matches to reach the quarter-final. First, she came back from down 5-0 in the third set to win her third-round match against Madison Keys, before pulling off the same 5-0 comeback in the first set against Iga Swiatek to beat the 2026 NBO winner in straight sets.

“It wasn’t easy. I haven’t beaten a Top 10 player in a while. The more matches I play, the more rhythm I get,” said Zheng. “I just feel really pumped and ready for my next match. I just really appreciate this win and want to thank my team. All our hard work is why I’m here.”

Zheng is the first qualifier to reach the quarters since Emma Raducanu made her title run in 2021 and will face her third straight Grand Slam winner in the quarters as she takes on Elena Rybakina with a chance to move into the final four.

The other women’s quarter-finals include: Aryna Sabalenka vs. Linda Noskova, Jessica Pegula vs. Emma Navarro, and Mirra Andreeva vs. Coco Gauff.

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Feature Photo: ATP Tour