Alcaraz faces all-American gauntlet against Shelton at US Open as Sabalenka chases three-peat

The US Open quarter-finals will take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where Carlos Alcaraz must navigate an all-American path if he wants to keep the title. In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka and Linda Noskova will produce one of the most intriguing battles of the day. Alcaraz, the Spanish second seed, beat Tommy Paul in straight sets in the fourth round. It was an important result for the seven-time Grand Slam champion after nearly five months out with a wrist injury. Tommy Paul had troubled Alcaraz in the past, so a quick win was a clear sign of confidence. Ben Shelton is the next challenge. Shelton is playing at home and knows how to use the crowd. Alcaraz admitted that Shelton is a powerful player who feeds on the energy of the New York fans. The Spaniard said beating Tommy Paul gave him great feedback about his current level. Shelton is also confident after practising with Alcaraz before the tournament. He said Alcaraz is playing at an extremely high level and looks normal despite the long break. Shelton believes that will make the quarter-final a great battle. Shelton has never beaten Alcaraz in three previous meetings. The most recent loss came at Roland Garros in 2026. Still, Shelton thinks he has improved in serving, returning, baseline tolerance and movement. He is excited to play Alcaraz in New York for the first time. If Alcaraz gets past Shelton, Frances Tiafoe or Alex Michelsen could await in the semi-finals. Both are American players who will have strong crowd support. That means Alcaraz may have to beat three home favourites in a row to reach the final at Flushing Meadows. The Tiafoe-Michelsen quarter-final is another all-American story. Tiafoe has produced many memorable moments at the US Open, while Michelsen is younger but in solid form. This match guarantees at least one American man in the semi-finals. In the women's draw, Aryna Sabalenka continues her title defence. The Belarusian top seed has not dropped a set and looks powerful. She wants her first Grand Slam of the year and a rare three-peat in New York. Earlier this year, she missed that chance in Australia. Linda Noskova is Sabalenka's opponent. The Czech sixth seed won Wimbledon for the first time less than two months ago. She used to consider hard courts her favourite surface, so her deep run at the US Open is not surprising. Noskova plays aggressive tennis and serves very well. Sabalenka knows Noskova will be dangerous. She said Noskova plays very fast and forces opponents to stay low. Sabalenka also admitted that their previous meetings were not easy, even though she leads 2-0. Their last meeting was in the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this year. Sabalenka won a tough match before completing the Sunshine Double with titles at Indian Wells and Miami. That gave her strong momentum on hard courts. Noskova is not afraid of the challenge. She said the two previous matches were different and that Sabalenka played well at the key moments. Noskova knows Sabalenka's game very well and believes she can compete at the highest level. There is also an all-American women's quarter-final between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro. Pegula is the third seed and has deep experience at major tournaments. Navarro is improving quickly and will not be intimidated by the occasion. The schedule at Arthur Ashe starts at 15:30 GMT. The afternoon session features Sabalenka against Noskova and Tiafoe against Michelsen. The night session begins at 23:00 GMT with Pegula facing Navarro and Shelton taking on Alcaraz. One of the most interesting storylines is that all four remaining men in Alcaraz's half are American. If results go as expected, Alcaraz will have to beat Shelton and then Tiafoe or Michelsen before thinking about the final. That scenario would be exciting for home fans but difficult for the Spaniard. Alcaraz is not unfamiliar with New York's energy. He won the US Open at a young age and knows how to use the crowd. However, American players receive even more support, especially someone like Shelton. Playing as defending champion while being treated as the away player is a rare challenge for Alcaraz. Shelton is not hiding his ambition. He said he is in the position he wants to be in and is ready for battle. He believes his service game and return have improved since Paris, and his movement is better as well. That gives him a reason to believe in an upset. For Sabalenka, the goal is not just to win one match. She wants to write another chapter of history with a third straight title in New York. She has stayed focused from the opening rounds and has not dropped a set. If she can maintain that rhythm, she should reach the semi-finals. American tennis fans will have a special day. They may see two all-American quarter-finals while also watching the world's best players trying to overcome hostile crowds. The US Open again shows that American tennis is driven not only by players but also by the atmosphere created in the stadium. The Shelton-Alcaraz story is not just about two generations. It is about composure at key moments, where a strong serve can create chances but shot-making and intelligence decide the result. Alcaraz has proven that many times, while Shelton is approaching his biggest milestone in front of a home crowd. Nothing can be predicted at a tournament like the US Open. But the day's matches will shape both the men's and women's draws. Players like Alcaraz, Shelton, Sabalenka and Noskova all have a huge opportunity to continue their journey at Flushing Meadows.