Carlos Alcaraz made a striking return to the professional circuit with a convincing straight‑sets victory over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the US Open. The 22‑year‑old had not contested a singles match since he pulled out of the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist problem that also forced him to skip the French Open and Wimbledon. Although the injury was serious enough to raise doubts about his participation in New York, it did not require surgery and Alcaraz ultimately decided to travel to Flushing Meadows. His 6‑4, 6‑4, 6‑4 win over Safiullin demonstrated that he remains a serious contender to defend the title he captured the previous year.
Former British champion Tim Henman, speaking for Sky Sports Tennis, summed up the performance: “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 is exactly what he delivered today. He and his team will be thrilled with every aspect of the match.” Alcaraz admitted that, before stepping onto the court, he entertained some doubts about his stamina in a best‑of‑five format.
“I wondered whether I could last four or five sets,” he said, referring to the longer matches that await him later in the tournament. "I had a little bit of doubt, but I tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the things I needed to improve. Physically I felt very good." The match attracted a fair amount of celebrity attention, most notably from rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's brown outfit for the tournament.
Observers were especially curious about the Spaniard’s serve speed and groundstroke power, given his four‑month absence from competitive singles play. Alcaraz had to fend off two break points in his first three service games before breaking Safiullin in the eighth game, a move that secured the opening set.
He dropped his serve early in the second set but answered immediately with a break of his own, then raised his intensity to claim another break in the eighth game and close out the set. In the third set, after an early break, Alcariz never looked vulnerable on his serve again, continuing to move fluidly and keeping his level high enough to repel the determined Russian opponent. While Alcaraz was the headline, other notable storylines unfolded on the same day.
In the men's draw, 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). On the women's side, Belarusian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a straight‑sets triumph over Colombia's Camila Osorio, winning 6‑2, 6‑4. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to capture three consecutive US Open crowns.
She acknowledged the challenge posed by Osorio in the second set, saying, "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 – a fun and tough match, but happy to get through in straight sets." Sabalenka has faced criticism after exiting in the round of 16 at her last three tournaments – Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and Cincinnati – which has sparked speculation that she could lose her world No.
1 ranking for the first time since October 2024. Rival contenders Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are all within striking distance. Nonetheless, the hard court remains Sabalenka’s preferred surface; all four of her Grand Slam titles have come on hard courts, and her raw power makes her a formidable opponent on the surface. Other matches of interest included Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, who began her US Open run with a dominant 6‑3, 6‑0 win over Austria’s Sinja Karus.
Former US Open runner‑up Amanda Anisimova also progressed, beating compatriot Ashlyn Krueger 6‑1, 6‑3, while fellow Americans Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend and Cate McNally added their names to the list of victors. Britain’s Harriet Dart and Jacob Fearnley both staged impressive comebacks to reach the second round. Dart recovered from a set and a break down to defeat American Peyton Stearns 3‑6, 6‑3, 6‑2. Her coach and Sky Sports pundit Marion Bartoli praised the effort, noting the mental toughness required to turn the match around.
Fearnley, a lucky loser who entered the main draw after losing in qualifying, edged Spain’s Martin Landaluce in a marathon five‑set thriller (4‑6, 6‑2, 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3). After Landaluce served for the match in the fourth set, Fearnley won three consecutive games to force a deciding set and ultimately held his nerve to clinch the win, securing a second‑round berth for a second straight year. He reflected, "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." British qualifier Harry Wendelken gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a serious scare, taking the first set 6‑2 before eventually losing 3‑6, 6‑2, 7‑5. Wendelken’s path to the main draw had been grueling; he spent nearly nine hours on court in qualifying, including an exhausting three‑set, three‑tiebreak duel against Vilius Gaubas in the final round. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app for viewers who prefer contract‑free access.
Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup, scheduled for 25‑27 September at The O2 in London, which will also be shown on Sky Sports.