Tommy Paul seeks to meet “the standard” set by Carlos Alcaraz in Australian Open rematch

MELBOURNE, Australia—At world No. 1, Carlos Alcaraz is the biggest test in men’s tennis right now. Set to face him in the fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open, American Tommy Paul is up for the challenge.

“He's like the standard that everyone's trying to catch up to right now,” said Paul, seeded nineteenth, after reaching the second week on Friday.

“But you got to go into that with excitement, be ready to face that, be ready to bring your best level, believe in yourself. That's something that I bring to the table every time I play Carlos. I believe I can win every time I go out there. Without that, you're going out there with no purpose.”

That belief has earned Paul a pair of victories over the top seed (both times at the National Bank Open in Canada), but Alcaraz has won their last four matches dating back to 2023—including two face-offs at majors.

“You know, we were talking earlier in the locker room, when was the last time we played against each other?” Alcaraz recalled after his own win on Friday. “Okay, it was in the French Open. So, it's been a long time.”

That 2025 Roland Garros clash was the start of a long injury sojourn for Paul, who began the year in solid form by reaching back-to-back major quarterfinals. Visibly hampered through a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 defeat on the terre battue, Paul effectively packed it in after Paris, shutting his season down in September.

“I looked at this as an opportunity to get a little extra rest and gear up for the second half of my career,” Paul told me over the phone back in December. “I’m more excited to get back into playing than ever.”

The break appears to have paid off early for the 28-year-old, who hasn’t dropped a set through his first three matches. He was up two sets on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina when the No. 14 seed was forced to retire, meaning he’ll be at optimum freshness heading into his match with Alcaraz in 48 hours.

“I'm more excited than anything about the match-up,” he said in press Friday. “I've been playing great tennis so far this tournament. Hopefully we can keep going and get even better.”

I think for the most part we set a game plan that's felt like the right game plan against him. It's about executing against Carlos. You can't really make too many mistakes...I got to serve well. I got to get to the net. I got to attack. I got to try and play on my terms as much as possible. Tommy Paul on facing Carlos Alcaraz

Where Paul is eager, Alcaraz is wary of his first big challenge of the season. The reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion has also made it to the second week without dropping a set, but has struggled at times through tiebreak sets against Adam Walton and Yannick Hanfmann in his first two rounds.

Though it proved smoother sailing against No. 32 seed Corentin Moutet, the 23-year-old Spaniard is expecting a step up against Paul.

“I know what I have to do, but he's really, really fast,” said Alcaraz. “He has great shots, good hands, as well.

“So, I got to play my style. I got to play my tennis, my good shots if I want to beat him.

But obviously I know I'm going to suffer, and I have to be ready for that, and I have to accept the tough moments that is gonna be in the match. You know, from that, just move on, and I'm trying to feel comfortable, you know, in those rallies, in those tough moments.”

Alcaraz rarely looks like he’s suffering out there, particularly at the majors, where he has now won his last 10 matches. Paul has played his best tennis Down Under, reaching the semifinals back in 2023, but still lacks a signature win at a Slam.

But for Paul and longtime coach Brad Stine, it’s less a question of concept and more of execution.

“You can't really make too many mistakes,” sighed Paul, who is 0-7 against Top 5 players at major tournaments.I got to serve well. I got to get to the net. I got to attack. I got to try and play on my terms as much as possible.”

To play on his terms against the world No. 1, he’ll not only have to meet the standard; he’ll have to surpass it.