Carlos Alcaraz marked his return to the singles court with a commanding performance at the US Open, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday. The seven-time major champion had not played a competitive singles match since the Barcelona Open in April, having spent 139 days on the sidelines recovering from a persistent wrist injury. His return to Arthur Ashe Stadium was met with enthusiasm as he showcased the trademark energy and shot-making ability that previously propelled him to the top of the sport.
A Long-Awaited Comeback
During his four-month absence, Alcaraz watched from the sidelines as rivals Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev claimed the Wimbledon and French Open titles. Despite the layoff, the Spaniard appeared sharp, hitting 28 winners throughout the match. Although he wore a compression sleeve on his right arm, he noted that his movement and ball-striking felt natural. “I missed the crowd, the energy, the competition – I missed everything,” Alcaraz said during his post-match interview. “I’m just really, really happy that I was able to compete again.”
Performance and Tactical Adjustments
- Alcaraz utilized his signature forehand to dictate play, though he acknowledged that his serve remains an area for improvement.
- He recorded two aces against five double faults, noting that some of his serving choices were tactical adjustments to keep Safiullin off-balance.
- The 23-year-old maintained high intensity, frequently celebrating points with his team and engaging the crowd, even singing along to music during changeovers.
- Despite his confidence, Alcaraz admitted to pre-match anxiety regarding his physical endurance: “I’ve been thinking about ‘am I going to last the best of five, am I going to last playing four sets, five sets?’. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get better and better every day.”
The Path Ahead
Alcaraz, who is aiming to become the first player to defend the US Open men’s singles title since Roger Federer’s five-year streak (2004-2008), faces a shifting landscape in the tournament draw. World number one Jannik Sinner is absent due to a knee injury, and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round by Mariano Navone. Additionally, French contender Arthur Fils, who recently won the Cincinnati Masters, was knocked out by Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday.
With these departures, the draw has opened significantly for the Spaniard. As the second seed, Alcaraz is positioned on the opposite side of the bracket from top seed Alexander Zverev, meaning they cannot meet until the final. The only top-10 player remaining in his path before the semi-finals is American Ben Shelton, who could potentially be a quarter-final opponent. Alcaraz will continue his campaign in the second round against Portugal’s 72nd-ranked Jaime Faria, looking to build further rhythm as he seeks to regain his championship form. The report also notes that after a 139-day wait, Carlos Alcaraz is back to winning ways on the singles court. The report also notes that and he delighted fans with his entertaining brand of tennis and infectious energy as he beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-4 6-4. The report also notes that however, the Spaniard is finally back – and grateful to be competing again. The report also notes that the whippy stroke accounted for the majority of his 28 winners against Safiullin. The report also notes that but from inside, my feeling was that I was hitting normal,” Alcaraz said, i don’t know how it looked from outside. The report also notes that each of Alcaraz’s winners was met with a clenched fist and celebratory cry of “vamos” – Spanish for “let’s go” – towards his team on the side of the court. The report also notes that smiling after points and, at one stage, singing along to a Michael Jackson song at the change of ends, the 23-year-old clearly enjoyed the occasion. The report also notes that when he ended an intense rally with a sublime drop shot during his final service game, Alcaraz lifted his fist to the sky before pointing to his ear and waving his arms to demand more noise from the raucous crowd.
