Carlos Alcaraz put his fist in the first and put his hand to his ear in the third, in the moment of Monday’s 2026 US Open.
The author scored a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russian Roman Safiullin in their first meeting since April, when he injured his right wrist at the Barcelona Open. It’s his first major since winning this past winter’s Australian Open, a triumph that made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
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The 23-year-old Spaniard has won the US Open twice before, including last year when he beat Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final. Sinner, the world No. 1, does not participate in the majors this season because of the right knee injury he sustained.
Notably, Alcaraz will not have a fourth seed in Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was able to hold off Alcaraz on the road until the end, but the 39-year-old Serbian suffered a crushing five-thousand defeat in the first night on Sunday against Argentine Mariano Navone.
Alcaraz, the No. 3 player in the world and no. 2 seed in this event, Portugal will now face Jaime Faria in the second round on Wednesday. Faria is 72nd in the current ATP rankings. Safiullin is the 99th.
Alcaraz broke Safiullin in the seventh game of the game with a forehand winner that crossed the court. That was a positive sign and therefore the exasperating drop was shot in the final set of the game, which was celebrated in service and closed with roars.
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Safiullin’s opportunity to make things interesting came in the second set. Alcaraz broke early and had a chance to take a 3-0 lead. But with the arrows in the snare. Then Safiullin is double blamed. He, however, sent back the broad train to the right and to the left.
Just as the window slammed shut on the potential chaos, Alcaraz was in control. His confidence shone through, as he scored a tweener at 15-15 with a 5-4 lead in the second set. But Alcaraz quickly regained the advantage with a series of thunderous shots. He placed and won next.
That last match began with Alcaraz coming out of the fray with a jaw dropping drop shot. That’s with a certain crowd. I just signed the deal.
“I couldn’t have decided on a better tournament to come back to than the US Open here in New York,” he said in a post-match interview in the conference room.
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“It’s a really special place for me, a special tournament for me. And I try to enjoy it as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd, the energy. I missed the competition. I missed everything. So I’m just really, really happy that I was able to compete again.”
Alcaraz made his return to competition next week in the mixed doubles portion of the US Open. Serena Williams followed the absence of the balls at the age of 44.
Together, tennis superstars — one on their way to the Mount Rushmore Games and the other already there — eliminated doubles artists Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool before bowing out in the quarters to the fourth-seeded team of Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. That unfortunate event served Alcaraz as a short ramp-up to the Criminal Open. Earlier this month, he withdrew from the Cincinnati Open, which is supposed to be a warm-up Open tournament.
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At the time, Alcaraz was still navigating his way out and making his way to the playoffs. He was dealing with tenosynovitis, which, according to The Clinic, is an inflammation of the connective tissue that surrounds your nerves. It can be painful and inhibit joint movement.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion has the opportunity to pull off a stunning comeback at Queens, given his performance over the past four-plus months leading to a synthesis draw.
That reboot is off to a quick start, with Alcaraz taking care of business on Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Alcaraz later admitted that he had some doubts if he could last the perfect five years. But when the match began, he sounded that cry.
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“I tried to enjoy it, I noticed what I was doing, what I was just trying to prove and everything,” he said. “I just left myself.”
Later, he added: “I’m pretty sure I’m going to get better and better after every day. But I’m most proud, I’m going to say that I’m going to do everything with my nerves and doubts in my head, and I’ve just kept it up, and I’m really just proud.”