Carlos Alcaraz wins US Open return

Carlos Alcaraz returned to singles competition at the U.S. Open on Monday and won in straight sets. The defending champion beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York in his first singles match in 139 days after a right wrist injury. Alcaraz said afterward that he felt more nervous than usual before the match, but he also said the wrist was pain-free. The result moved him into the second round at Flushing Meadows. ### Why was this match such a close watch for Alcaraz? April was the last time Alcaraz had played a singles match before Monday’s opener. The Spaniard had been sidelined by a right wrist injury and arrived in New York with the condition of that wrist the main question around his title defense. The ATP said Monday’s match was his singles return after a four-month layoff. (atptour.com) Alcaraz told reporters after the match that the physical response mattered as much as the score. “I’m just really happy it’s pain-free finally,” he said, according to the U.S. Open’s account of his remarks. The Athletic also reported that Alcaraz said, “It’s pain free right now, I felt great.” (atptour.com) ### What did he say about the nerves? Alcaraz described the day as emotionally uneven even as the match itself stayed under control. ESPN reported that he called it “a difficult day” and “a really beautiful one,” saying he started the day “really, really nervous” and had “more nerves than usually.” (usopen.org) The U.S. Open said Alcaraz also admitted he had to reacquaint himself with the routine of competition. “I kind of forgot what match day looks like,” he said, adding that he did not remember what he used to do in the warm-up before settling in once play began. (espn.com) ### What did the match itself look like? Arthur Ashe Stadium hosted a match that was efficient rather than dramatic. Alcaraz won all three sets by the same 6-4 scoreline and did not drop a set in his first singles outing since April. Official U.S. Open photography and match coverage place the contest on Day Two, August 31, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing. (usopen.org) The ATP said Alcaraz “settled in quickly” and delivered a composed performance to start his defense. Other match reports described him as showing little visible discomfort, which aligned with his own assessment afterward that the wrist had come through the test well. ### Why does the scoreline matter? Three identical 6-4 sets gave Alcaraz a clean return without extending his time on court unnecessarily. (usopen.org) For a player coming off a wrist layoff, the straight-sets win offered a first competitive check on both movement and shot tolerance under match conditions. That reading was supported by Alcaraz’s own comments about wanting to see how his body would react after competition resumed. (atptour.com) The U.S. Open had already framed his return as the resumption of his men’s singles title defense. Alcaraz confirmed before the tournament that he would play in New York after the injury interruption, and Monday’s result kept that campaign going. ### What comes next in New York? (espn.com) Round 2 is next for Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows after the opening win over Safiullin. The U.S. Open and ATP both listed Monday’s result as the start of his 2026 singles campaign in New York, where he is defending the title. His next appearance will determine whether the pain-free return he described after August 31 carries deeper into the tournament. (atptour.com) (usopen.org)