Carlos Alcaraz Wins US Open Opener in First Singles Match Since April

Carlos Alcaraz began his US Open title defence with a straight-sets victory in his first singles match for 139 days. The Spaniard defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, completing a successful return after a right wrist injury kept him out for more than four months.

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The official US Open website reported that Alcaraz had not contested a professional men's singles match since April. He had returned to competition in the tournament's mixed doubles event the previous week, but the first-round meeting with Safiullin was his first full test in singles since the injury interruption.

Alcaraz needed two hours and 22 minutes to advance, according to the ATP Tour. He converted four of seven break-point opportunities and saved five of the six he faced. Safiullin, ranked 99th in the world, produced nine aces, but Alcaraz repeatedly protected his advantage at important moments and took each set by the same score.

The 23-year-old acknowledged after the match that the long absence had made his normal match-day routine feel unfamiliar and contributed to nerves before he stepped on court. He also said his body felt good after the contest, an encouraging early assessment following the layoff. BBC Sport reported that Alcaraz expects his level to improve as he accumulates more match time.

The victory extended Alcaraz's unbeaten record at Grand Slam tournaments in 2026 to 8-0. He won the Australian Open in January to complete the career Grand Slam, but the wrist problem then forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. He returned in New York as the defending US Open champion and a seven-time major singles winner.

Alcaraz will play Portugal's Jaime Faria in the second round after Faria defeated American Jenson Brooksby. The win also preserved Alcaraz's perfect record in US Open first-round matches: he has reached the second round in each of his six main-draw appearances. His opening performance supplied a positive result and a completed physical test, while the next round will offer another measure of his recovery after the longest singles absence of his career.