Carlos Alcaraz has made a winning return to Grand Slam tennis, defeating Roman Safiullin in straight sets at the 2026 US Open after spending more than four months sidelined by a right wrist injury.
The defending men’s champion beat the Russian 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Aug. 31, completing his first competitive singles match in 139 days. The victory immediately eased some of the questions surrounding his fitness ahead of his title defence.
Alcaraz said he was nervous before the match because he had not played an official match for months, but the most encouraging sign came afterward: he reported that his wrist and arm felt good and that he played without pain.
“I kind of forgot what match day looks like,” Alcaraz said after returning to competition, according to the US Open.
Alcaraz returns — and the US Open suddenly looks wide open
The 23-year-old Spaniard entered New York with plenty of uncertainty.
His wrist injury had kept him out since April and forced him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon. Rather than play a warm-up tournament, Alcaraz chose to make his return directly at the US Open.
That gamble paid off in his opening match.
Alcaraz gradually found his rhythm against Safiullin and closed out the match in two hours and 22 minutes. He also produced more than 20 forehand winners, showing signs that the aggressive game that has made him one of tennis’s biggest stars was still intact.
His next opponent was Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round.
Djokovic’s shock exit adds even more drama
Alcaraz’s return comes at a particularly interesting moment in the men’s draw.
Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning first-round defeat to Mariano Navone, his earliest US Open exit in 20 years. Djokovic had previously been 19-0 in first-round matches at Flushing Meadows.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was also absent from the tournament because of a knee injury, leaving the men’s field without two of the players who could have stood between Alcaraz and another championship.
Alcaraz is attempting to become the first man since Roger Federer to successfully defend the US Open title. Federer won five consecutive US Open championships from 2004 through 2008.
Sabalenka begins her own title mission
On the women’s side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also advanced in straight sets.
The world No. 1 defeated Colombia’s Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 to begin her attempt to win the US Open for a third consecutive year. The official US Open result confirms that score.
Sabalenka has reached the last three US Open finals, winning the championship in 2024 and 2025 after finishing runner-up to Coco Gauff in 2023.
A third straight title would put Sabalenka in rare company. She would become the first woman in the professional era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles since Serena Williams achieved the feat from 2012 to 2014.
But her road to another championship could be challenging. Sabalenka arrived in New York after inconsistent results during the second half of the season, including fourth-round exits at Wimbledon, Toronto and Cincinnati.
Two defending champions, two very different challenges
Alcaraz is trying to prove his body can withstand the demands of a Grand Slam after a lengthy injury absence.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, is trying to maintain her dominance and make history with a potential three-peat.
Both survived their opening tests.
But with the tournament already losing Djokovic and Sinner absent from the men’s field, the pressure — and opportunity — surrounding Alcaraz has suddenly become much greater.
After months away from the court, Alcaraz is back. But with the US Open draw already shaken by major upsets, could this be the moment he launches another championship run?
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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