More than four months after returning to the tour, Carlos Alcaraz has looked like he barely missed a beat. The Spaniard has powered through his first three opponents at Flushing Meadows and now booked yet another quarterfinal appearance after beating Tommy Paul in the fourth round, looking every bit ready to defend his title.
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But when Alcaraz sat down for an interview with Andy Roddick on ESPN, he was in for a small surprise.
Following the match, Roddick asked him about his potential next opponent, saying, “Carlos, I’m sure your eyes will be on the match with Shelton and Tsitsipas. Maybe just a quick word on the challenges that both of them could bring.”
The World No. 3, however, seemed puzzled. Why, exactly, was he being asked about Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas?
Roddick then made the situation clear, telling him, “You’re either going to play Shelton or Tsitsipas.” That was when the realization hit Alcaraz. Looking completely caught off guard, the Spaniard could only respond, “Oh my god.”
Even Roddick appeared surprised by Alcaraz’s reaction and joked, “Surprise. You’re Welcome.”
Still processing the news, Alcaraz replied, “I didn’t seem to know. Oh my God, all right.” The mix-up caught Alcaraz off guard because he had apparently been expecting to face Frances Tiafoe in the next round. Roddick quickly set the record straight, though: Big Foe wasn’t going to be his opponent.
After getting over the surprise, Alcaraz said he would watch their upcoming match and start preparing. Meanwhile, Tiafoe had his own big moment, stunning World No. 7 Daniil Medvedev to set up a quarterfinal clash with fellow American Alex Michelsen.
As for Alcaraz, there has been little to worry about. Across his first four matches at Flushing Meadows, the Spaniard has dropped just one set, against Jaime Faria in the second round.
Since then, he has been in complete control. The Spaniard cruised past Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, before taking down Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the Round of 16.
But his next challenge might not be quite as straightforward, as Ben Shelton came through after defeating Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 in their fourth-round clash. The two bring very different styles to the court. While the Spaniard likes to construct his game and physically outplay the opponent, the World No.9 likes to go at the opponent from the serve and tries to avoid long rallies.
Despite Alcaraz’s lengthy absence from competitive tennis, Shelton knows he is walking into a serious test. Yet the American’s comments about what it could take to get past the Spaniard showed just how much respect he has for the two-time US Open champion.
“Special tennis. I think the level he’s been playing at is really really impressive,” Shelton said. “To not play for 5 months and come out and do what he’s done so far this tournament has been superhuman.”
Shelton’s praise for Alcaraz was clear, but there was no hint that he planned to be intimidated by the occasion. “We’re happy to have him back on tour. He lights up the stadium every time he plays. I think it’s gonna be fireworks on Tuesday night. I hope you guys come back, because I’m ready to go,” the American added.
Although Alcaraz holds a commanding 3-0 head-to-head lead, Shelton knows a thing or two about taking down top players. The American has already scored notable wins over the likes of Frances Tiafoe, Daniil Medvedev, and Jannik Sinner. And with Shelton playing at home, he might be more of a challenge than Alcaraz’s previous opponents.
Carlos Alcaraz believes he can defend his title
After cruising past 4 rounds at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz has gone from protecting his wrist to believing he can defend his title.
That confidence is striking because Alcaraz arrived after nearly 4 months away due to a wrist injury. He had no idea how his wrist would respond when facing tough opponents under New York’s bright lights.
“At the beginning of the tournament I didn’t have any expectations,” Alcaraz said after reaching the quarter-finals.
But with each win, Alcaraz has more than enough reason to trust his body and game. Against Paul, he stayed aggressive through long exchanges before closing points with his forehand.
“After four really good matches, now I feel capable of winning the tournament,” Alcaraz admitted after a convincing performance.
There’s also a little superstition following Alcaraz into his clash with Shelton. Every time he has beaten Tommy Paul at a Grand Slam, he has gone on to lift the trophy at that tournament. That happened at Wimbledon 2024, Roland Garros 2025, and the Australian Open 2026. Could the same winning omen work its magic again in New York?