Carlos Alcaraz returned to Grand Slam action in impressive fashion, defeating Roman Safiullin in straight sets after a lengthy injury absence.
Carlos Alcaraz made a highly anticipated return to competitive tennis at the 2026 US Open and immediately looked like a serious contender for another title in New York. The defending champion defeated Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round, marking his first competitive singles match in 139 days.
The Spanish star had been away from competition because of a wrist injury that forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. His absence created uncertainty around his condition heading into the final Grand Slam of the season, particularly because he had not played a warm-up tournament before arriving in New York.
Despite those concerns, Alcaraz produced a confident performance on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He controlled the rallies effectively, used his powerful forehand to move Safiullin around the court and maintained enough consistency to secure victory without dropping a set.
The result was particularly encouraging because Alcaraz had spent several months away from top-level singles competition. His ability to return directly to a Grand Slam and win in straight sets suggested that his wrist was responding well to the demands of competitive tennis.
Alcaraz entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and defending champion. His 2025 US Open title remains one of the biggest achievements of his young career, and he is now attempting to become one of the leading contenders for another championship in New York.
His return also adds further excitement to a men’s draw featuring several major stars. With the tournament moving into its later rounds, Alcaraz will face increasingly difficult opposition, but his opening performance has immediately strengthened expectations around his title defence.
The Spaniard’s successful comeback was one of the major talking points of the opening days of the tournament. After missing two Grand Slam events because of injury, Alcaraz has given himself an ideal start as he attempts to continue his US Open journey.
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