Carlos Alcaraz made a striking comeback to the professional tennis circuit by 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 keep him off the court for several months, it did not require surgery, and the young Spaniard entered Flushing Meadows with some uncertainty about his readiness.
Nevertheless, his 6-4 6-4 6-4 triumph over Safiullin demonstrated that he remains a formidable contender and should not be underestimated as the defending champion. Tim Henman of Sky Sports Tennis summed up the performance succinctly: "If you’d have asked Alcaraz how he’d have liked this game to go, he would have signed up for a straight‑sets victory, a few pressure moments, and just over two hours of work.
That is exactly what he got today. He and his team will be delighted with all aspects of this game." Alcaraz himself admitted that doubts crept in during the match.
"There were some doubts in the match, I'm not going to lie. Thinking about if I would last the match, best of five, playing four or five sets," he said, referring to the longer format used in Grand Slam tournaments.
He added that he tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the tactical improvements he needed to make, noting that physically he felt "really well" on the day. The match attracted additional attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's distinctive brown outfit for the tournament, was in attendance. Observers were keen to see whether the Spaniard's serve speed and groundstroke power would still be at elite levels after a four‑month hiatus from competitive play. Early in the first set, Alcaraz was forced to save two break points in his opening service games, but he broke Safiullin in the eighth game to take the set.
In the second set, after being broken early, Alcaraz responded immediately with a break of his own and raised his intensity, securing another break in the eighth game to claim the set. The third set began with an early break for Alcaraz, and from that point he never allowed Safiullin to threaten his service games again, moving fluidly around the court and maintaining a high level of play throughout. While Alcaraz was the headline act, the women's draw also featured notable storylines. Aryna Sabalenka opened her campaign with a straight‑sets win over Colombia's Camila Osorio, 6-2 6-4, keeping alive her bid to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to capture three consecutive US Open titles.
Sabalenka acknowledged the challenge posed by Osorio, 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." Despite recent criticism after early exits in Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and Cincinnati, Sabalenka's hard‑court pedigree remains strong; all four of her Grand Slam crowns have come on hard surfaces, and her raw power continues to make her a dangerous opponent. The tournament also highlighted emerging British talent. Harriet Dart rallied from a set and a break down to defeat American Peyton Stearns 3-6 6-3 6-2, earning praise from her coach and former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who described Dart's mental resilience as "absolutely brilliant." In the men's draw, Jacob Fearnley, a lucky loser who entered the main draw after losing in qualifying, produced a gritty five‑set victory over Spain's Martin Landaluze, winning 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3. After Landaluze served for the match in the fourth set, Fearnley captured three consecutive games to force a decider, then held his nerve to close it out despite missing a routine smash that could have ended the contest earlier.
Fearnley 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." Other notable performances included Britain's Harry Wendelken, who gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a serious scare before eventually losing 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 battle against Vilius Gaubas in the final qualifying round.
His perseverance exemplified the depth of talent competing at Flushing Meadows. The day also saw Karolina Muchova, the Wimbledon runner‑up, start her US Open run strongly by dispatching Austria's Sinja Karus 6-3 6-0, while former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova continued her resurgence with a 6-1 6-3 win over compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.
American hopefuls Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend, and Cate McNally each added victories to the women's draw, underscoring the growing depth of U.S. women's tennis. Overall, the first round of the US Open delivered a blend of comeback narratives, breakthrough performances, and seasoned champions reaffirming their status. Alcaraz's seamless return after injury, Sabalenka's pursuit of a historic three‑peat, and the spirited displays from British qualifiers all set the stage for an exciting fortnight of tennis, with the tournament continuing to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day until September 13.
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