Carlos Alcaraz made a striking statement on his return to the professional circuit, cruising to a straight‑sets victory over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the opening round of the US Open. The 22‑year‑old Spaniard had not contested a singles match since he withdrew from the Barcelona Open in April because of a wrist problem that also forced him to sit out 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 ultimately decided to compete. His 6‑4 6‑4 6‑4 triumph over Safiullin demonstrated that he remains a formidable contender and should not be written off as a defending champion.
Former British champion Tim Henman, speaking for Sky Sports Tennis, summed up the performance: "If you had asked Alcaraz how he wanted this match to go, he would have described a straight‑sets win, a few pressure moments, and just over two hours of tennis. That's exactly what he delivered today. He and his team will be thrilled with every aspect of the game." Alcariz admitted that, before stepping onto the court, he experienced a flicker of uncertainty.
"There were moments when I wondered if I could last a five‑set match, if I could push through four or five sets," he said, referring to the grueling best‑of‑five format of men's Grand Slam matches. "I had a little doubt, but I tried to block it out and focus on the areas I needed to improve. Physically I felt very good, so I just played my game." The match attracted extra attention because rapper Travis Scott, who helped design Alcaraz's brown outfit for the tournament, was in the stands. Observers were keen to see whether the Spaniard's serve speed and groundstroke power would still match his pre‑injury levels 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. He lost his serve early in the second set, only to break back immediately and raise his intensity, securing another break in the eighth game and taking the set.
In the third set, an early break gave him the edge, and he never looked vulnerable on his own serve again. His movement remained fluid, and he maintained a high level of aggression throughout, ultimately neutralising the Russian's tactics.
While Alcaraz advanced, other storylines unfolded across the tournament. In the men's draw, Arthur Fils—who had captured the Cincinnati Open title the week before—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 convincing 6‑2, 6‑4 win over Colombia's Camila Osorio.
Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player since Serena Williams in 2014 to capture three consecutive US Open crowns. She acknowledged the challenge Osorio presented, 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 the support.
It was a fun and tough match, but I'm happy to have taken it in straight sets." Sabalenka's recent form had been under scrutiny after she fell in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open. Those losses sparked speculation that she could lose her world No.
1 ranking for the first time since October 2024, with Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula all positioned to overtake her. Nevertheless, her record on hard courts remains impressive—she has secured all four of her Grand Slam titles on this surface, and her raw power makes her a constant threat.
Other notable performances included British Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova, who began her US Open run with a dominant 6‑3, 6‑0 victory over Austria's Sinja Karus. Former US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova also progressed, beating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6‑1, 6‑3. The women's draw saw three additional American wins on Monday, as Emma Navarro, Taylor Townsend, and Cate McNally each secured their first‑round matches.
Great Britain produced two inspiring comebacks. Harriet Dart rallied 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, 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." In the men's draw, Jacob Fearnley produced a thrilling five‑set win over Spain's Martin Landaluce (4‑6, 6‑2, 4‑6, 7‑5, 6‑3). Landaluce had served for the match in the fourth set, but Fearnley captured three consecutive games to force a decider and then rode that momentum to close it out.
Despite missing a routine smash that could have ended the contest earlier, Fearnley kept his composure and celebrated a second‑round appearance at Flushing Meadows for the second year running. The 22‑year‑old, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying, 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. I'm 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 scare in his first‑round match, eventually falling 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 encounter against Vilius Gaubas in the final qualifying round. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports daily through September 13, with streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also look forward to the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for 25‑27 September, which will also be shown on Sky Sports.