Carlos Alcaraz opened his US Open campaign with a straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows in New York. Playing in his first official singles match in over four months following a wrist injury, Carlos Alcaraz spent two hours and twenty minutes on court to secure a reliable start to his tournament defense.
A Long-Awaited Return in New York
For tennis fans tracking the tour, the appearance marked the end of an absence that stretched back to mid-April. According to reports from the venue, spectators inside Arthur Ashe Stadium greeted Alcaraz with a loud ovation as he stepped onto the court for the first-round encounter. The Spaniard acknowledged the reception and admitted after the match that the recovery period tested his patience.
“Han sido cinco meses muy duros para mí,” Alcaraz said in his on-court remarks, describing the challenge of missing the tour. “Volver a estar aquí, poder volver a jugar. No podría haber vuelto en un mejor lugar.”
Navigating Early Rust Against Safiullin
Records from the tournament show that Alcaraz experienced some early nerves, spraying a few shots wide as he calibrated his strokes. However, the top contender settled after securing the opening set in 50 minutes.
The second set required resilience as Alcaraz dropped serve early before recovering the break. He then warded off three break points at the start of the third set to maintain control. Journalists at the grounds noted that while his timing was occasionally off by centimeters, his trademark movement and defensive instincts remained intact.
Family Support and Coaching Presence
Several members of Alcaraz’s family watched from the player box alongside his close circle. Spanish Davis Cup captain David Ferrer was also spotted in the stands observing the contest alongside the player’s father.
Physical concerns appeared minimal during the encounter. “Físicamente estoy muy bien,” Alcaraz stated following the victory. “Mi nivel de tenis va a mejorar. Hoy estoy muy contento con mi nivel, era mi primer partido en cuatro meses, pero necesito jugar más partido.”
Next Round Preview
With the opening hurdle cleared, Alcaraz advances to face Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round. Faria secured his spot by overcoming Jenson Brooksby in a five-set battle. The upcoming matchup represents the first career meeting between Alcaraz and the 23-year-old Portuguese competitor, who holds a number 72 ranking.
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