Carlos Alcaraz Wins US Open Return After Four-Month Layoff

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return to the US Open on Monday, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The straight-sets victory was Alcaraz’s first match after a four-month absence caused by a wrist injury.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion had not competed since April, but came through his opening test in New York to move into the second round. Alcaraz said the occasion carried added meaning after what he described as a difficult five months away from the sport.

“It’s been a really tough five months for me,” Alcaraz said. “Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament. It’s a really special place for me.”

Alcaraz clears his first test in New York

Alcaraz took each of the three sets by the same 6-4 margin against Safiullin, producing a composed start to his title defence. The match gave the defending champion an immediate opportunity to assess his return after the extended layoff, and he advanced without dropping a set.

While the performance was not described as peak Alcaraz, his forehand grew more forceful as the match progressed and he showed the touch at the net that has become a familiar part of his game. More importantly for the 23-year-old, he said he had been able to put doubts about his fitness to one side during his comeback.

“I tried to enjoy as much as I can,” Alcaraz said. “I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything.”

He added that he expects his level to rise as the tournament continues. “I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure,” Alcaraz said, explaining that he was particularly pleased to have quietened concerns he had held over his physical condition.

Alcaraz entered the US Open seeking to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles. His Australian Open victory in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, and his return to the New York hard courts now keeps his bid to retain the title on track.

A changing US Open picture

Alcaraz’s smooth move into round two came less than a day after Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years. Djokovic was beaten in five sets by Mariano Navone, removing a potential semi-final opponent for Alcaraz from the draw.

The tournament was also already without top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who is absent with a knee problem. Those developments have altered the wider field, but Alcaraz’s immediate task was simply to return successfully after time away, and his victory over Safiullin achieved that objective.

Women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also progressed safely to the second round on Monday. For Alcaraz, however, the headline was his own return to competition: three controlled sets, a place in the next round and a first step in a defence of the US Open crown at a venue he called especially meaningful.