Carlos Alcaraz wins in return at US Open

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz returned from a wrist injury to defeat Roman Safiullin in straight sets at the U.S. Open, showing no physical setbacks in his first match since April. His comeback adds intrigue to a men’s draw already disrupted by the early exit of Novak Djokovic and the absence of Jannik Sinner, with Alcaraz aiming to defend his title and become the first man since Federer to win consecutive U.S. Open crowns.

Carlos Alcaraz marked his return to competitive tennis with a straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin at the U.S. Open on Monday, demonstrating no apparent issues with the right wrist injury that sidelined him since April. The 23-year-old Spaniard won 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a match played on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he first rose to prominence by winning his maiden Grand Slam title and becoming world No. 1.

Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed and two-time U.S. Open champion, had missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to the injury but decided to re-enter the Grand Slam stage without any prior warmup events. He acknowledged feeling nervous ahead of his comeback but described the match experience positively. “I was playing pretty normal, playing my style, and yeah, the arm, the wrist, everything felt great,” Alcaraz said after the match. He added that his primary goal was to enjoy competing and to see how his body would respond to the demands of tournament play.

The Spaniard showed flashes of the skill and creativity that had earned him widespread acclaim prior to his injury layoff, hitting numerous forehand winners and controlling much of the baseline play. However, observers noted that his first serve velocity remained noticeably lower than usual, a possible precaution to protect his wrist. Despite this, Alcaraz appeared comfortable as the match progressed, engaging with the crowd and responding enthusiastically to their support.

Alcaraz’s return comes at a time of upheaval in the men’s draw. The absence of top-ranked Jannik Sinner, sidelined by a knee injury, coupled with the early first-round exit of No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic—the first early loss Djokovic has suffered at Flushing Meadows—has altered expectations for the tournament. Djokovic had previously maintained a perfect 19-0 record in first rounds at the U.S. Open, where he has won four of his 24 Grand Slam titles.

In the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka continued her pursuit of a historic achievement, winning her first-round match against Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka, a two-time U.S. Open champion, aims to become the first woman to win three consecutive titles at the event since Serena Williams accomplished the feat from 2012 to 2014. Having reached the U.S. Open final for the past three years, Sabalenka appears poised to maintain her strong form on the New York hard courts.

Alcaraz faces Portuguese player Jaime Faria in the second round. Though his opening match did not suggest immediate dominance, it provided encouraging evidence that he can sustain competitiveness throughout the event. The Spaniard cautioned that he will need to adjust to the tournament rhythm, emphasizing a focus on gradual progress rather than setting specific expectations. His ability to defend the U.S. Open crown would make him the first man to do so since Roger Federer, who won five consecutive titles from 2004 to 2008.

As the tournament unfolds, Alcaraz’s health and form will remain central talking points, with fans and analysts watching closely to see if he can translate his early promise into a deep run, amid a field reshaped by injury and unexpected results.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.