Carlos Alcaraz made a striking comeback to the professional tennis circuit with a clean‑sheet, three‑set triumph over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the US Open. The Spanish prodigy had been absent from competitive singles action since he pulled out of the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist problem that also forced him to sit out the French Open and Wimbledon. Although the injury was serious enough to raise doubts about his fitness, it did not require surgery, and Alcaraz was ultimately cleared to compete at Flushing Meadows.
His 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Safiullin demonstrated that the defending champion remains a formidable contender despite the lay‑off. Tim Henman of Sky Sports Tennis summed up the performance perfectly: "If you had asked Alcaraz how he wanted the match to go, he would have said a straight‑sets win, a few pressure moments, and just over two hours of tennis. That's exactly what he got today.
He and his team will be thrilled with every aspect of the game." Alcariz himself admitted that there were moments of uncertainty. "I did wonder whether I could last a best‑of‑five match, maybe four or five sets," he confessed before his next encounter with Portugal's Jaime Faria. "I had a little doubt, but I tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the things I need to improve. Physically I felt great on court." The match attracted extra attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's brown US Open outfit, was in the stands.
Observers were keen to see whether the seven‑time Grand Slam champion could still generate the same serve velocity and groundstroke speed after more than four months away from singles competition. Early in the match Alcaraz had to fend off two break points in his first three service games, but he broke Safiullin in the eighth game to clinch the opening set. After losing his serve early in the second set, Alcaraz responded immediately with a break of his own, raised his intensity and broke again in the eighth game to seal the second set. In the third set, Alcaraz secured an early break and never looked back.
He held his serve comfortably, moved fluidly around the court, and maintained a high level of play throughout, ultimately dispatching the resilient Russian opponent. The win not only puts Alcaraz into the second round but also sends a clear message to the rest of the field that his title defence is very much alive.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Aryna Sabalenka also began her US Open campaign with a straight‑sets victory, defeating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka is chasing a historic third consecutive US Open crown, a feat not achieved since Serena Williams in 2014.
The Belarusian faced a determined challenge from Osorio in the second set but held firm, saying after the match, "Camila is a tough opponent, but I was ready to do whatever it takes to get the win. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the support. It was a fun and tough match, but I'm happy to win in straight sets." Sabalenka's recent form had been under scrutiny after early exits in the last 16 at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Those defeats threatened her world No.
1 ranking, which she has held since October 2024, as rivals Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all have opportunities to overtake her. Nonetheless, hard courts are Sabalenka's preferred surface; all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on hard courts, and her raw power remains a daunting weapon for any opponent. The women's draw also featured strong performances from other players. Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova started her US Open run with a convincing 6-3, 6-0 win over Austria's Sinja Karus.
Former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova continued her resurgence by beating compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-3, while fellow Americans Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and Cate McNally also secured first‑round victories. Britain's Harriet Dart displayed remarkable resilience, overturning a set and a break deficit to defeat American Peyton Stearns 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Dart's coach and former champion Marion Bartoli praised the effort, noting the mental toughness required to stage such a comeback. In the men's draw, Jacob Fearnley produced a dramatic five‑set win over Spain's Martin Landaluce, rallying from a 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 deficit to capture the match 7-5, 6-3.
Landaluce had served for the match in the fourth set, but Fearnley seized momentum, winning three consecutive games and ultimately prevailing in the decider. The British youngster, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after falling in qualifying, said he approached the match as if he had "nothing to lose" and was playing on "house money," a mindset that helped him stay calm under pressure. Another British qualifier, Harry Wendelken, gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a scare in their first‑round clash, pushing the Italian to a four‑set battle before succumbing 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Wendelken had endured a grueling qualifying campaign, spending nearly nine hours on court, including a marathon three‑set, three‑tiebreak match against Vilius Gaubas in the final qualifying round.
Overall, the opening day of the US Open delivered a blend of expected dominance and surprising grit. Alcaraz's seamless return reassured fans that the defending champion is still capable of delivering high‑quality tennis, while Sabalenka's steady start kept her historic quest alive. The tournament continues to showcase emerging talent and seasoned veterans alike, promising an exciting fortnight of world‑class competition on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows.