By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 3, 2026
Photo credit: Simon Bruty/USTA/US Open
Facing a first-set tie break test, Carlos Alcaraz answered with backhand brilliance.
Trailing 2-6 in the tie break, Alcaraz fought off four set points dispatching Matteo Arnaldi 7-6(6), 6-1 to score his seventh straight Tokyo victory and advance to his 59th Tour-level quarterfinal.
It wasn’t easy and required Alcaraz elevating his play during the tie break when he tore through six straight points to subdue stress.
World No. 37 Arnaldi drew an errant return to earn the four set points at 6-2 in the breaker. Alcaraz bolted a backhand strike down the line for 3-6 then cracked a forehand drive volley winner for 5-6. When Arnaldi committed an error, the Australian Open champion was even at 6-all.
That’s when Alcaraz conjured the magical shotmaking. Attacking net, Alcaraz soared for a slick high backhand volley, making the toughest shot in tennis, look smooth for 7-6.
On his first set point, Alcaraz hammered a heavy serve to take the 73-minute opener.
“When you are down in a tie-break, you are thinking about doing something different,” Alcaraz said in his on-court intervew. “Then you are trying to be better in the second set.
“I just tried to stay there, point after point. I changed how I played until that moment and it worked out. Just happy that I got that first set. Matteo was playing great.”
The draining duel of the first set left Arnaldi drained in the second set. Alcaraz broke Arnaldi in his opening service game of the second set streaking to a 5-0 lead before closing in one hour, 45 minutes.
Continuing his quest to become the first man since Hall of Famer Pete Sampras in 1993-94 to successfully defend Tokyo, Alcaraz will face left-hander Denis Shapovalov for a semifinal spot.
In an all-lefty clash, Shapovalov stopped Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 to reach his 50th career Tour-level quarterfinal.
In a match that saw both men win exactly 91 points, Shapovalov smacked 11 aces improving to 21-19 on the season. Shapovalov is the third Canadian man to reach 50 quarterfinals after Milos Raonic (81) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (71).
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