Carlos Alcaraz made a striking statement on his return to the professional circuit, cruising to a straight‑sets triumph over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the US Open. The Spaniard had been absent from competitive singles action since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open in April due to a wrist problem that also forced him out of the French Open and Wimbledon. Although the injury did not require surgery, its lingering effects left his participation in New York in doubt.
Nevertheless, Alcaraz stepped onto the hard courts of Flushing Meadows and, with a 6‑4 6‑4 6‑4 victory, demonstrated that he remains a formidable contender and a serious threat to defend the title he captured last year. Tim Henman of Sky Sports Tennis summed up the performance perfectly: "If you’d 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 delighted with every aspect of this display." Alcaraz admitted there were moments of uncertainty during the match. "There were some doubts, I won’t lie.
I wondered if I could last a best‑of‑five match, playing four or five sets," he said, referring to the grueling format of Grand Slam men's matches. "I had a little bit of doubt, but I tried to push those thoughts aside and focus on the things I need to improve. Physically I felt great," he added, before noting that his next opponent will be Portugal's Jaime Faria.
The match attracted additional attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's brown US Open outfit, was in attendance. 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 after more than four months away from competitive singles play.
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. The second set saw him lose his serve early, only to break back immediately and raise his intensity, securing another break in the eighth game and taking the set 6‑4. In the third set, after an early break, Alcaraz never looked back; he held serve comfortably, moved fluidly around the court, and maintained a high level of play to close out the match without further trouble. While Alcaraz was the headline, other stories unfolded across the tournament.
In the men’s draw, Arthur Fils, fresh off a Cincinnati Open title, was eliminated by Stefanos Tsitsipas in a four‑set battle (4‑6 7‑6(7‑3) 6‑1 6‑4), removing one of the biggest threats from Alcaraz's half of the draw. On the women’s side, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka also began her campaign with a convincing straight‑sets win, defeating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6‑2 6‑4. Sabalenka is chasing a historic third consecutive US Open title, a feat not achieved since Serena Williams in 2014. She acknowledged the challenge posed by Osorio, especially 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’s recent form has been under scrutiny after early exits in the last‑16 stage of Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Those results have opened the door for a potential shift at world No.
1, with Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all in contention to overtake her for the first time since October 2024. Nonetheless, Sabalenka’s game is built for hard courts—her four Grand Slam titles have all come on this surface—and her raw power makes her a perpetual danger. Elsewhere, Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova kicked off her US Open run with a dominant 6‑3 6‑0 win over Austria's Sinja Karus. In the women’s draw, former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova dispatched 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 produced impressive comebacks to secure second‑round spots. Dart recovered from a set and a break down to beat American Peyton Stearns 3‑6 6‑3 6‑2.
Her coach and Sky Sports pundit Marion Bartoli praised the effort, saying, "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." Fearnley survived a five‑set thriller against Spain's Martin Landaluce, winning 4‑6 6‑2 4‑6 7‑5 6‑3 after saving a match point in the fourth set. The British qualifier, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, described his mindset as playing "on house money," which helped him stay relaxed and seize the opportunity.
In another notable match, British qualifier Harry Wendelken gave 21st seed Luciano Darderi a serious scare, pushing the Italian to a four‑set battle before ultimately losing 6‑2 3‑6 6‑2 7‑5. Wendelken’s path to the main draw was arduous; he spent nearly nine hours on court during qualifying, including a marathon three‑set, three‑tiebreak duel against Vilius Gaubas. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports daily through September 13, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also shown on Sky Sports.