This wasn't in the script, Tommy Paul is up 0-30 on the Carlos Alcaraz serve...

Tommy Paul does what he has to do.

He holds to love for the first time in the match.

The players will have a quick sit down and a drink, after which, Carlos Alcaraz will serve for the match.

One game away.

Carlos Alcaraz crushes a cross-court forehand winner to move to the brink of the last eight at Flushing Meadows.

Tommy Paul will try to make him wait but, at this point, it is hard to see how it would be anything more than a slight delay.

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Not quite as simple as it might've been after racing into a 40-0 lead but Tommy Paul holds.

Carlos Alcaraz entertains the crowd with a through-the-legs shot but Paul had gone long anyway... I'm not 100% sure the Spaniard knew it was long, though.

Anyway, Alcaraz is still two games away from the quarter-finals.

Jeff Tarango
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

Amazing get there by Tommy Paul. Alcaraz had that overhead, crushed it. But then he had a relatively easy backhand pass and missed it. I mean that was the easiest shot he had the whole rally.

Big cheers from the crowd on Arthur Ashe as Tommy Paul returns Carlos Alcaraz's overhead with interest.

Good as it was, Alcaraz still manages to win the point. You really do have to feel for his opponents when he's in this kind of mood.

Paul doesn't even attempt to get to a superbly disguised drop shot next point and Alcaraz holds to 15.

Image source, Reuters

The other two ongoing men's fourth-round matches are on serve in the first set following an exchange of early breaks.

Home favourite Frances Tiafoe dropped serve in his opening game but produced an immediate response against Russian seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, who triumphed here in 2021.

Medvedev has just saved three more break points, thanks to some excellent serving, to level at 2-2.

Another American, Alex Michelsen, led by a break and 3-0 against Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry - but they are currently tied at five games apiece.

Huge cheers from the home crowd as Tommy Paul secures the lesser spotted comfortable hold with an ace out wide.

The 20th seed is still, just about, hanging in there.

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I was just thinking it had been a little while since we'd seen a really eye-catching winner from Carlos Alcaraz - well, a couple of games anyway.

He must've been thinking the same as he smokes a forehand beyond a helpless Tommy Paul.

Break consolidated.

Jeff Tarango
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

He just made three unforced errors at break point, at deuce point there is marvellous. Tommy Paul threw everything at him, and the kitchen sink. And Alcaraz came up with something better on every shot.

Tommy Paul can't do a whole lot more...

He's into the net quickly and hammers the ball at Carlos Alcaraz, who produces another ridiculous reaction volley.

That's the break for Alcaraz. Paul can't quite believe he's lost that point.

Carlos Alcaraz brings up three break points but a couple of rare loose shots allow Tommy Paul to save the first two.

A big first serve saves the third of them.

Alcaraz isn't done yet, though, refocuses and comes out on top in a mammoth rally at deuce. Another break point...

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It's 0-30 on the Tommy Paul serve again...

Jeff Tarango
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

That's frustrated him, in the fact that Tommy Paul usually gets every ball. He rarely doesn't get to a ball, he's so fast, so athletic.

Alcaraz completely surprised him with the drop shot.

No problem for Carlos Alcaraz as he continues merrily on his way.

A delightful, deft drop shot is the highlight of his latest straightforward hold of serve.

Important hold at the start of the third set for Tommy Paul.

He manages to avoid going down 0-30, which is a good start, and while Carlos Alcaraz does get to 30-30, Paul stands firm.

The men's final is a week today. Playing like this, it's hard to see how Carlos Alcaraz won't be there.

But before I get too far ahead of myself, it's worth remembering he still needs another set to win this match.

We've all seen these matches turn around from nowhere.

Image source, Reuters

Carlos Alcaraz wraps up a set in which he has dominated.

Just brilliant from the seven-time major champion.

A double fault to start the game briefly gives Tommy Paul hope but that is soon snuffed out.

Alcaraz has simply been too good.

Jeff Tarango
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think he should be getting a lot more height on some of his balls, above Alacarz's shoulders. He then has to work that ball even more and then he can't hit those thunderous surprise shots.

Going soft, soft, soft and then boom. He's able to dictate his own shots. Tommy's got a great slice, just keep mixing it up a little bit. It's like Tommy is playing a pattern and it's not working.

Six service games in a row now, Tommy Paul has gone down 0-30.

He's not making things any easier for himself.

But an ace and another thumping serve take it to 30-30 and he goes on to hold.

Carlos Alcaraz will have to serve for the second set.