Carlos Alcaraz Dominates US Open Debut in Strong Return From Injury

Carlos Alcaraz made a commanding return to competitive tennis on Monday at the US Open, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a two-hour, 22-minute opening-round match on the tournament’s central court in New York. Playing his first individual match in more than four months due to a right wrist injury, the Spanish star demonstrated solid physical form and extended his winning streak in Grand Slam matches to 15.

A Long-Awaited Return After Five Months Sidelined

Alcaraz stepped onto the New York court having missed 139 days of official tour action, an absence that forced him to skip both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Entering the tournament as the world number three, the 23-year-old faced immediate questions about his endurance and the health of his wrist under the grueling demands of a best-of-five-sets Grand Slam format. According to match reports, he arrived in New York eager to resume the momentum that saw him claim titles at the US Open and the Australian Open.

“I’m very happy with the level I played my first official match in more than four months,” Alcaraz said after securing the straight-sets victory. “I’m proud, but I need more matches, to get back into the rhythm of tournaments, and I’m sure I’ll keep improving.”

The Spaniard admitted to pre-match nerves, noting that he questioned whether his body could hold up through a demanding opening fixture. “There were some doubts before the match, I’m not going to lie. If I was going to last a five-set match, I don’t know,” he explained. “But I tried to forget everything, enjoy it, and do the things I had to do. I thought about letting myself go and seeing what happened in the match, and it turned out very well.”

Navigating the Match Against Safiullin

Facing world number 99 Roman Safiullin—against whom he had previously suffered a defeat in Paris in 2023—Alcaraz kept his composure despite stumbling early in the second set down 2-0. Relying on a dependable serve that yielded only a single break to the Russian, the champion avoided unnecessary risks and leaned on familiar vocal outbursts of “Vamos” to regain his footing.

When he walked onto the court, the crowd welcomed him back with enthusiastic applause. Alcaraz sported a sleeveless, basketball-inspired uniform paired with a headband and a compression sleeve on his right arm—the same protective gear he wore during his mixed doubles appearance alongside Serena Williams the previous week.

“One of the things I am most proud of is that mentally I was able to deal with the nerves, the doubts in my head, and move forward,” Alcaraz noted. “New York is a very special place for me and I tried to enjoy it to the max. I missed the energy, the crowd, the competition. I am very happy to be able to compete again.”

Broader Implications in the Men’s Draw

Alcaraz’s successful entry into the second round carries significant weight in a tournament already upended by early surprises. With world number one Jannik Sinner sidelined by injury and Novak Djokovic eliminated in a first-round exit on Sunday, the path through the bracket has opened considerably for contenders willing to seize the moment.

Carlos Alcaraz Dominates US Open Debut in Strong Return From Injury — Photo: vssports.com.py

By securing his 15th victory at major championships, Alcaraz continues his pursuit of history, aiming to become the first champion to repeat triumph in the US Open since Roger Federer won five straight titles between 2004 and 2008.

Next Up in New York

Alcaraz advances to the second round, where he will face Portugal’s Jaime Faria, ranked 72nd in the world. The two players have never faced each other on the professional tour.