Carlos Alcaraz marked his return to Grand Slam singles competition with a commanding straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin at the US Open.
Carlos Alcaraz made an impressive return to Grand Slam singles competition at the 2026 US Open, defeating Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. The victory was particularly significant because it was Alcaraz’s first singles match since April after a wrist injury kept him away from competitive action for more than four months.
The Spaniard entered the tournament with questions surrounding his fitness and match sharpness. Having spent an extended period away from the tour, Alcaraz faced the challenge of returning directly to one of tennis’s biggest stages.
Those concerns quickly disappeared once the match began. Alcaraz produced an assured performance against Safiullin, using his powerful groundstrokes and movement to control the match. He won each set 6-4 and completed the victory without being forced into a fourth set.
The performance was an encouraging sign for the defending champion. Alcaraz had missed the French Open and Wimbledon because of his wrist problem, meaning the US Open represented his first opportunity to compete in a Grand Slam since the injury interrupted his season.
His return is also significant for the wider tournament because Alcaraz remains one of the biggest contenders for the men’s title. The Spaniard has enjoyed remarkable success at the US Open and entered the 2026 edition with the ambition of making another deep run in New York.
Against Safiullin, Alcaraz showed that his trademark creativity remained intact. His ability to change direction, attack from the baseline and move forward when opportunities appeared helped him maintain control throughout the contest.
The victory also provides Alcaraz with valuable confidence after such a long absence. Although one match cannot completely answer questions about his fitness, the straight-sets win was an ideal way to begin his campaign.
As the tournament progresses, Alcaraz will face stronger opposition and increasingly demanding matches. His ability to recover between matches and maintain the wrist’s condition will be closely watched.
For now, however, the comeback has started exactly as the Spanish star would have wanted. A convincing victory over Safiullin has placed Alcaraz into the next round and immediately re-established him as one of the players to watch at the 2026 US Open.
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