Carlos Alcaraz made a striking statement on his comeback to the professional circuit, dispatching Russia's Roman Safiullin in straight sets during the opening round of the US Open. This was Alcaraz's first competitive singles appearance since he withdrew from the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist problem that also forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon.
Although the injury was serious enough to raise doubts about his fitness, it did not require surgery, and the young Spaniard entered Flushing Meadows with a clear determination to prove he remains a serious contender for the title he won last year. The match unfolded as a 6-4 6-4 6-4 triumph for Alcaraz, a scoreline that underscored his ability to dominate despite a four‑month hiatus from top‑level play. Sky Sports Tennis analyst Tim Henman summed up the performance perfectly: "If you had asked Alcaraz how he wanted the match to go, he would have described a straight‑sets win, a few pressure moments, and a little over two hours of tennis.
That's exactly what he delivered today, and his team will be thrilled with every facet of his game." Alcaraz admitted that he entered the match with a flicker of uncertainty. "There were moments when I wondered if I could last a best‑of‑five match, especially thinking about playing four or five sets," he confessed before his next opponent, Portugal's Jaime Faria. He quickly added, "I had a little doubt, but I tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the areas I needed to improve.
Physically I felt great, and that confidence helped me stay locked in." The encounter attracted additional attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's distinctive brown outfit for the tournament, was in the stands. Observers were eager to see whether the Spaniard's serve speed and groundstroke power would still be at elite levels after such a long layoff.
Early in the match, Alcaraz faced two break points in his first three service games, but he saved them and then broke Safiullin in the eighth game to clinch the opening set. In the second set, Alcaraz was broken early but responded immediately by breaking back and raising his intensity, eventually taking the set with another break in the eighth game. The third set began with an early break for Alcaraz, and from that point he never allowed Safiullin any serious threat on his serve. He continued to move fluidly around the court, maintaining a high level of play on both his forehand and backhand, and closed out the match without any further drama.
While Alcaraz was the headline, other storylines unfolded across the tournament. Arthur Fils, fresh off his Cincinnati Open victory, was eliminated by Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four‑set battle (4-6 7-6(3) 6-1 6-4), removing one of the biggest potential challenges from Alcaraz's half of the draw. On the women's side, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka mirrored Alcaraz's start with a straight‑sets win over Colombia's Camila Osorio, 6-2 6-4. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to capture three consecutive US Open titles.
Although Osorio made the second set competitive, Sabalenka held firm, stating to Sky Sports Tennis, "Camila is a tough opponent, but I was ready to do whatever it takes to win. I loved the atmosphere and the support; it was a fun yet challenging match, and I'm happy to have taken it in straight sets." Sabalenka's recent form has been under scrutiny after she fell in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Those early exits have opened the door for a potential change at the top of the women's rankings; Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula all have a realistic chance to overtake her, ending her reign as world No.
1 that began in October 2024. Nevertheless, Sabalenka's game is built around hard‑court power, and all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on this surface, making her a perennial threat.
Other notable performances included Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, who started her campaign with a dominant 6-3 6-0 victory over Austria's Sinja Karus. In the women's draw, last year’s US Open runner‑up Amanda Anisimova defeated fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 6-3, while Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend, and Cate McNally also advanced, adding depth to the American contingent. Britain's Harriet Dart and Jacob Fearnley both displayed resilience, overturning deficits to reach the second round.
Dart recovered from a set and a break down to beat American Peyton Stearns 3-6 6-3 6-2, prompting her coach and former champion Marion Bartoli to praise the mental fortitude required for such a comeback. Fearnley, a lucky loser who entered the main draw after losing in qualifying, battled Spain's Martin Landaluce in a marathon five‑set match, ultimately prevailing 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3. He reflected on his mindset, saying, "I treated it like I had nothing to lose, playing on house money, which helped calm my nerves and let me give my best." In another upset, British qualifier Harry Wendelken gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a serious scare, pushing the match to four sets before eventually losing 6-2 3-6 6-2 7-5.
Wendelken's journey to the main draw was grueling; he spent nearly nine hours on court during qualifying, including a demanding three‑set, three‑tiebreak duel against Vilius Gaubas. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app for fans who prefer contract‑free viewing. As the tournament progresses, the narrative will focus on whether Alcaraz can defend his title, if Sabalenka can achieve a historic three‑peat, and how the emerging British talents will fare against the world’s elite. The combination of seasoned champions and hungry newcomers promises a compelling second week of tennis at Flushing Meadows.