Carlos Alcaraz made a confident return to competitive tennis on Monday at the U.S. Open, dispatching Russian Roman Safiullin in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, after a four-and-a-half-month absence due to a right wrist injury. The reigning champion had not played since withdrawing from Barcelona in April, and his unexpected hiatus had raised questions about his fitness and form heading into the year's final Grand Slam.
Alcaraz’s performance demonstrated a promising level of play, particularly with his forehand, a stroke heavily reliant on wrist movement. He recorded 20 forehand winners and showed no visible pain or limitation, signaling an encouraging sign given the severity of his tenosynovitis injury. “It’s pain-free right now,” he said after the match. “From inside, my feeling was that I was hitting normal… the arm, the wrist, everything felt great.”
Despite this strong showing, there was noticeable caution in Alcaraz’s game. His first serve speed was considerably lower than usual, averaging around 113 mph compared to his past peak velocities near 135 mph. Experts and observers suggested this might be a tactical choice to protect his wrist in the early stages of his comeback, though it could affect his ability to secure free points through service dominance in later rounds.
The Spaniard’s hairstyle also drew attention, as he debuted long, flowing hair—a departure from his typical short cut—which he indicated he planned to maintain throughout the tournament. His contemporaries, including American player Frances Tiafoe, welcomed the change with approval.
Alcaraz described his return as a mixture of nerves and joy. “I started the day really nervous, really, really nervous, thinking I’m going to make it, I’m going to compete again,” he said. “I had more nerves than usual, but just happy because, for me, my goal here is to compete, to enjoy, and let’s see how my body’s going to react after the matches.” With family, friends, his team, and notable spectators such as rapper Travis Scott watching from the stands, the emotional significance of his comeback was evident.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz is set to face Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round. He remains open-ended about how far he can advance, emphasizing a day-by-day approach given the recent injury. Meanwhile, his position in the draw means he could potentially meet Tiafoe in the semifinals, keeping alive intriguing matchups as the tournament progresses.
His victory also stands in contrast to early exits and injury setbacks suffered by other top players, including Novak Djokovic, who was eliminated in the first round, and Jannik Sinner, who withdrew due to injury. As Alcaraz cautiously rebuilds his form, all eyes will be on how he adapts through the demanding best-of-five format and whether his wrist tolerates the rigorous conditions of Grand Slam competition.