Carlos Alcaraz is gearing up for a tense Tommy Paul French Open quarterfinal showdown after surviving a tough four-set match against Ben Shelton on June 1, 2025, at Roland Garros in Paris. The defending champion’s win not only secured his place in the last eight but also marked his 100th tour-level victory on clay, intensifying anticipation for what promises to be a hard-fought quarterfinal encounter.

Alcaraz Reflects on Past Challenges and Current Title Defense

After capturing the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles last year, Carlos Alcaraz acknowledges the considerably tougher competition he faces this season. His path in the 2024 French Open was relatively straightforward, facing players like J.J. Wolf and Sebastian Korda, but the current tournament requires overcoming stronger opponents. Having already secured championship titles on clay this season in Monte-Carlo and Rome, Alcaraz aims to claim his fifth Grand Slam, underscoring the stakes of his upcoming clashes.

Following his hard-earned victory over Shelton, Alcaraz addressed the difficulty of his next challenge, Tommy Paul, noting their history of intense, closely contested matches.

“I remember that every match that I played against him it was really tough. It was really difficult in Grand Slams in Masters 1000 in a lot of tournaments. I’ve played against him, is it wasn’t easy at all. I lost a lot a few matches against him as well, so it’s and he is in the quarterfinal of another grand slam.”

—Carlos Alcaraz, Tennis Player

He also praised Paul’s confidence and form, recognizing the American’s recent straight-sets win to reach the quarterfinals.

“So I mean, his level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence, I’m pretty sure. So it’s going to be a really interesting match,”

Alcaraz said, while emphasizing his intent to learn from the mistakes made during his match with Shelton to improve his play.

“I will try to just keep going, just trying to be better. I will try to learn from the mistakes that I made today. And not going to make the same, you know, against Tommy, but I think for the people it’s going to be a really interesting match to watch because every time we play against each other we raise our level to the top. We make really good rallies good points. So I think it’s going to be great to watch as well, so it’s going to be a good quarterfinal,”

he added, showing both determination and respect toward his upcoming opponent.

Pressure Builds as Tommy Paul Seeks to Make French Open History

Tommy Paul arrives at the Roland Garros quarterfinals in exceptional form, becoming the first American male player to reach this stage since Andre Agassi achieved it in 2003. Having crushed Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in straight sets during the fourth round, Paul continues to build on his success across different Grand Slam surfaces, following his 2023 Australian Open semifinal and 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinal performances.

Despite trailing 2-4 in their head-to-head encounters, Alcaraz remains wary of Paul’s relentless momentum and growing confidence on Parisian clay. With such high stakes, viewers can expect a match defined by fierce competition and intense rallies.

Alcaraz’s Sportsmanship Shines During Tough Match Against Shelton

During his recent clash with Ben Shelton, Alcaraz demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship that captivated fans and the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Early in the second set, after Shelton hit a passing shot well out of Alcaraz’s reach, the Spaniard accidentally flicked his racquet, which strikingly contacted the ball and sent it back over the net. Although the point was initially awarded to Alcaraz, he immediately notified the chair umpire that he had released the racquet when it struck the ball, which under tennis rules constitutes a fault.

“I thought, ‘OK, I could not say anything.’ But I would have felt guilty if I didn’t say anything,”

Alcaraz explained, acknowledging the cost of honesty in a critical moment. The gesture turned a 40-30 lead into a 30-40 deficit on his serve, granting Shelton a break point and winning applause from the packed stadium.

Shelton, visibly surprised, praised Alcaraz’s integrity.

“I thought it was clean, you know? I thought he hit the volley, and (then) the racquet flew out of his hand,”

Shelton said.

“I was kind of surprised that he was, like, ‘No, I let go of the racquet and threw it’… Obviously a guy with a lot of sportsmanship.”

Upcoming Quarterfinal Could Be a Defining Moment for Both Competitors

As the tennis world waits in suspense for the Tommy Paul French Open quarterfinal showdown, questions loom over whether Alcaraz’s blend of skill and sportsmanship will be enough to halt Paul’s impressive run. Both players have shown resilience and top-level performance, setting up a match likely to feature incredible rallies and fierce competition.

For Alcaraz, maintaining his composure and refining his game by learning from recent errors could prove critical. For Paul, sustaining momentum and composure against a former champion poses its own challenge. This match will not only influence the Roland Garros semifinal lineup but could also signal shifts in the emerging hierarchy of men’s tennis.

The winner of this quarterfinal is expected to carry forward vital confidence into the final rounds, with the chance to ultimately lift the coveted Roland Garros trophy once again.