Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made a triumphant return to the US Open after a five-month wrist damage layoff, showcasing his formidable forehand in a dominant straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin.
IMAGE: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates profitable his US Open first spherical match in opposition to Russia’s Roman Safiullin at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Monday. {Photograph}: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters
Key Factors
- Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to the US Open after an almost five-month wrist damage layoff, securing a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roman Safiullin.
- Alcaraz showcased his highly effective forehand, hitting over 20 winners in his first singles match in 139 days.
- Regardless of admitting to ‘some doubts’ in the course of the match, Alcaraz maintained management, changing essential break factors and dominating the third set.
- The Spaniard will now face Portugal’s Jaime Faria within the second spherical of the event.
- Alcaraz expressed his pleasure at returning to competitors, lacking the group, power, and general aggressive environment.
IMAGE: Carlos Alcaraz getures to the group throughout his first spherical match in opposition to Roman Safiullin. {Photograph}: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz wanted solely a New York minute to hit his stride after an almost five-month damage layoff, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday within the first spherical of the US Open.
Alcaraz arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of many event’s greatest query marks, having not performed since April on account of a wrist damage, however he had his greatest weapon working for him in his first singles match in 139 days as he despatched over 20 forehand winners.
He subsequent performs Portugal’s Jaime Faria within the second spherical.
Alcaraz’s Emotional Return
“It has been a extremely robust 5 months for me,” stated Alcaraz. “I missed it – I missed the group, the power, I missed competitors, I missed all the pieces.”
Alcaraz obtained a quick US Open warm-up within the blended doubles with companion Serena Williams final week, and the group at Arthur Ashe Stadium was all too completely satisfied to see him return, heaping deafening cheers on the twice champion as he took to the court docket.
Match Dominance and Overcoming Doubts
IMAGE: Roman Safiullin returns to Carlos Alcaraz. {Photograph}: Robert Deutsch/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters
Alcaraz whacked a forehand winner out of Safiullin’s attain for the break within the seventh recreation and seemed to be again to his common self because the Russian was unable to tame Alcaraz’s deadly serve on set level.
The Spaniard went down an early break within the second set however Safiullin gave up the momentum instantly as he despatched a volley out on break level within the third recreation, by no means getting a deal with on the match.
Alcaraz painted the road to go up one other break within the seventh and was in whole management within the third set, the place he transformed a break level together with his highly effective forehand.
“There have been some doubts in the course of the match, I am not going to lie,” stated Alcaraz.
“I attempted to overlook all the pieces. I attempted to take pleasure in.”
Tsitsipas shocks Arthur Fils
IMAGE: Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates profitable his first spherical match in opposition to France’s Arthur Fils. {Photograph}: Geoff Burke/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas shocked Cincinnati winner and tenth seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 within the early match on Armstrong, establishing a second-round assembly with South African Lloyd Harris in a event the place he has ceaselessly struggled.
“It’s totally straightforward to not really feel assured, particularly when you have not overwhelmed high gamers in a very long time,” he informed reporters.
“I am very ecstatic about at present. It is an vital, good victory for me, for my confidence.”
Tsitsipas stated ending a training relationship together with his father Apostolos had introduced much-needed calm to his tennis life and rebuilt his confidence.
He reached two Grand Slam finals and a career-high rating of world quantity three underneath the steering of his father, whom he parted methods with in 2024 after a 23-year spell collectively earlier than renewing the association final 12 months.
However after damage issues and a string of disappointing outcomes, Tsitsipas break up together with his father once more earlier than Wimbledon this 12 months and introduced in Thomas Perrin to his staff as he sought to revive his fortunes.
IMAGE: Arthur Fils in motion throughout his first spherical match in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas. {Photograph}: Geoff Burke/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters
“I personally felt like I wanted it. I wanted a unique voice. I wanted somebody who gives a bit bit extra calm into my tennis world,” Tsitsipas informed reporters after beating Fils.
“There was quite a lot of chaos surrounding me earlier than and quite a lot of noise. It took, for me, a very long time to determine it out and realise that I simply cannot deal with it anymore. I additionally felt I grew up.”
Tsitsipas stated he had no regrets about making the change.
Seven matches have been suspended on the outer courts on Sunday evening on account of rain and resumed on Monday, with organisers benefiting from the prolonged three-day first-round schedule after increasing the primary draw to fifteen days in 2025.
Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova obtained the day underway on the Grandstand with a routine 6-3, 6-0 win over Austrian Sinja Kraus.
The Czech seventh seed performs Briton Katie Boulter within the second spherical.
It was an excellent day for the Individuals on the most important of the outside courts, as Emma Navarro floor out a 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-3 win over Frenchwoman Lois Boisson, whereas Taylor Townsend defeated Poland’s Maja Chwalinska 6-2, 6-3.
The Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who was compelled to undergo qualifying solely two years after reaching the quarter-finals in New York, beat Kristina Liutova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on the outer courts.
