Carlos Alcaraz made a striking statement on his return to the professional circuit, cruising past Russia's Roman Safiullin in straight sets during the opening round of the US Open. This was the Spaniard's first competitive singles appearance since he withdrew from the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist injury that also forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Although the injury was serious enough to raise doubts about his participation at Flushing Meadows, it did not require surgery, and Alcaraz entered the tournament with a clear intention to prove that he remains a serious contender for defending the title he captured last year.
The match unfolded with Alcaraz delivering a consistent 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory. Sky Sports Tennis analyst Tim Henman summed up the performance perfectly: "If you’d 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 got today. He and his team will be thrilled with every facet of the game." The young champion admitted there were moments of uncertainty during the encounter.
"There were some doubts in the match, I'm not going to lie. I wondered if I could last the best‑of‑five format, playing four or five sets," he said, referring to the grueling nature of Grand Slam matches. "I had a little bit of doubt, but I tried to block it out and focus on the things I needed to improve. Physically I felt really good," he added.
The match attracted extra attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's distinctive brown outfit for the tournament, was in the stands. Observers were keen to see whether the seven‑time Grand Slam champion could still generate the blistering serve speeds and groundstroke power that have become his trademarks, despite a four‑month hiatus from competitive singles play. Alcaraz faced early pressure, having to save two break points in his first three service games.
He broke Safiullin in the eighth game to clinch the opening set. In the second set, after being broken early, Alcariz responded immediately, broke back, and raised his intensity, eventually breaking again in the eighth game to seal the set. The third set began with an early break, and from that point Alcaraz never looked back; his serve held firm and his movement remained fluid, allowing him to dispatch the resilient Russian without further trouble.
While Alcaraz advanced, other storylines unfolded on the hard courts. Arthur Fils, who had just captured the Cincinnati Open title, was eliminated by Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four‑set battle (4-6 7-6(7-3) 6-1 6-4), removing a potential threat from Alcaraz's half of the draw. On the women's side, Aryna Sabalenka also began her campaign with a straight‑sets win, beating 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. She acknowledged the challenge Osorio presented in the second set, stating, "Camila is a tough opponent but I was ready to do whatever it takes to get the win.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and support. It was a fun and tough match, but I'm happy to get through in straight sets." Sabalenka's recent form has been under scrutiny after she exited in the last 16 at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open.
Those defeats have opened the door for a possible change at the top of the women's rankings; Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all have a realistic chance of overtaking her for the world No. 1 spot, which she has held since October 2024. Nonetheless, her game is built around hard‑court dominance—she has claimed all four of her Grand Slam titles on this surface—and her raw power remains a formidable weapon. Other notable performances included Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova, who opened her US Open run with a convincing 6-3 6-0 win over Austria's Sinja Karus.
Former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova also progressed, defeating compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 6-3, while fellow Americans Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and Cate McNally secured victories on Monday. British players made their presence felt as well.
Harriet Dart rallied from a set and a break down to defeat American Peyton Stearns 3-6 6-3 6-2, prompting her coach and Sky Sports pundit Marion Bartoli to praise the comeback: "I'm really pleased for her. Such a great effort and mentally it's so hard to come back but she fought so hard. It's absolutely brilliant." Jacob Fearnley delivered a dramatic five‑set triumph over Spain's Martin Landaluce, winning 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3.
After losing a match point in the fourth set, Fearnley seized momentum, taking three consecutive games to force a deciding set and eventually prevailing in the fifth. The British youngster, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after falling in qualifying, described his mindset: "I saw it like I had nothing to lose and was playing on house money a little bit.
That's what I told myself to ease the nerves and give my best effort. Super grateful for the second chance and glad I could make good use of it." Harry Wendelken, another British qualifier, gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a scare 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 round. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports daily through September 13, with streaming options available on NOW and the Sky Sports app for fans who prefer contract‑free viewing.
The tournament promises further excitement as the field narrows and the quest for the coveted hard‑court crowns intensifies.