Carlos Alcaraz returns after 139 days

Carlos Alcaraz returned to singles competition at the U.S. Open after a 139-day absence and moved through his opener without dropping a set. The defending champion beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows in his first singles match since April. The Spaniard had been sidelined by a right wrist injury and arrived in New York with questions about match sharpness after four months away. By the end of the afternoon, he had advanced to the second round and said the most important detail was that he had come through pain-free. ### How long had Alcaraz been out, and why? Carlos Alcaraz had not played a singles match since Barcelona in April because of a right wrist injury, according to ATP Tour coverage before the tournament. ATP said the U.S. Open would be his first event since the clay-court season after a layoff of more than four months. Alcaraz said before the tournament that returning had required long and intense practice blocks to test how the wrist responded during and after training. (usopen.org) He said the decision to come back in New York “wasn't an easy decision,” according to ATP Tour reporting. ### What did his first match back look like? Roman Safiullin took on Alcaraz in the first round and lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. (atptour.com) The U.S. Open and ATP Tour both reported that Alcaraz settled quickly and controlled the match in straight sets. ATP Tour said Alcaraz struck 28 winners in the victory. (atptour.com) Afterward, Alcaraz said, “It was a difficult day for me,” describing the nerves around his first singles match in 139 days, but added that he was “pain free.” ### Why was this return getting so much attention? The U.S. Open billed Alcaraz as the defending men’s singles champion and one of the central storylines entering Day 2. (usopen.org) ATP Tour said he returned to Flushing Meadows trying to defend his title after missing the summer stretch of the season. The U.S. Open said Alcaraz has now reached the second round at Flushing Meadows in each of his six main-draw appearances. (atptour.com) The tournament also noted that he is a two-time U.S. Open champion. ### Who else moved through on the same day? Aryna Sabalenka opened her title defense with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Camila Osorio on Monday, beginning her attempt at a third straight U.S. (atptour.com) Open title. The tournament’s official site listed Sabalenka among the headline winners from the opening rounds. (usopen.org) Ben Shelton and Iga Swiatek were also among the notable names advancing as the first round continued across the first two days in New York, according to the U.S. Open’s Day 2 coverage and tournament materials. ### What comes next for Alcaraz in New York? The 2026 U.S. Open schedule shows the tournament moved into second-round singles play on Wednesday, Sept. 2, after first-round sessions on Sunday, Aug. 30, through Tuesday, Sept. 1. (usopen.org) The official Day 3 preview listed Alcaraz among the featured players returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium. (usopen.org) Flushing Meadows remains the site of his title defense through Sept. 13, when the men’s singles final is scheduled. The next immediate step for Alcaraz is his second-round match as the draw begins to tighten around the tournament’s top seeds. (usopen.org)