On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz beat Tommy Paul in straight sets to reach the quarterfinal of the US Open. His most formidable opponent awaited him after the match, however.
Live television.
Alcaraz joined Andy Roddick, Mary Joe Fernandez, and Rece Davis at the desk for ESPN’s live coverage. Roddick asked Alcaraz for “a quick word” on Ben Shelton and Stefanos Tsitsipas and “the challenges that both of them could bring.” Alcaraz looked completely dumbfounded and asked Roddick to repeat the question.
“You’re either gonna play Shelton or Tsitsipas,” Roddick said. “Maybe just a word on both of them.”
“Oh, really? I thought…,” Alcaraz interjected, leaning over to look at Roddick’s copy of the men’s draw. “Oh my god! I thought I was playing Daniil Medvedev [or Frances] Tiafoe. Oh my god. Thank you.”
“Surprise!” Roddick said. “You’re welcome.”
Reigning US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz doesn’t need to bother checking who he plays next. 🎾🎙️😂pic.twitter.com/ifHqLUgEnL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 6, 2026
Alcaraz tried to reset and offer his thoughts, as Roddick originally requested. “I mean, both of them are—” was all Alcaraz could get out before Roddick cracked and began laughing hysterically. Fernandez and Davis also laughed at Alcaraz’s endearing confusion.
“I didn’t see the draw!” Alcaraz said. “Oh my god. Alright, alright. Let’s focus again.”
“OK, you’re gonna watch the match tonight?” Fernandez asked, to which Alcaraz confirmed he now understood he “for sure” needed to pay attention to Shelton and Tsitsipas’ match.
Before this US Open, Alcaraz had been sidelined with a persistent wrist injury for five months. The tour missed him dearly, and his return has been a breath of fresh air, whether it be playing mixed doubles with Serena Williams, acknowledging a wardrobe malfunction, or making an unintentionally hilarious ESPN appearance.
Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, is seeking his third US Open title. Should he win it all next weekend, he’ll become the tournament’s reigning back-to-back champion.
About Megan Armstrong
Since first getting published as a student by the Kansas City Star in 2013, Megan Armstrong has gone wherever curiosity and stories have taken her, specializing in sports, media, music, and culture coverage. She also has an extensive background in interviewing and profiling public figures. Her work has appeared in Billboard, Boardroom, Bleacher Report, Esquire, GQ, GRAMMY.com, NYLON, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, The Hollywood Reporter, UPROXX, and elsewhere.