A Dominant Return to Form
Carlos Alcaraz has made a powerful statement at the US Open in New York, and few are taking notice more closely than former major quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic. The 23-year-old Spaniard had been sidelined for more than four months with a wrist injury before arriving at Flushing Meadows, and genuine concerns surrounded whether he would even compete after withdrawing from Cincinnati. Those doubts have been firmly answered. Alcaraz has dropped just one set through the first four rounds, with that solitary blip coming against Jaime Faria in the second round.
His latest win was particularly convincing. He dismantled 20th seed Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday, landing 33 winners compared to Paul's 18, hitting 75 percent of first serves in, and winning 72 percent of those first-serve points. After the match, Alcaraz credited his aggressive mindset, saying he focused on applying pressure during return games to stay relaxed and think clearly throughout.
The Serve Is Still Playing Catch-Up
Despite the impressive numbers, Tomljanovic has identified one area where the wrist injury still appears to be leaving its mark. Speaking on the Big T podcast, she noted that Alcaraz seems to be hitting his forehand harder than before the injury, which makes the situation on his serve all the more revealing. She observed that his serve speed has not yet returned to pre-injury levels, suggesting the wrist problem was most heavily felt during the serving motion.
Tomljanovic's analysis highlights a fascinating subplot as Alcaraz prepares to face Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, a matchup that will push every part of his game. TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Alcaraz's run as one of the most popular title picks heading into the final stretch of the tournament.
