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 successful 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’ throughout 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 match.
- Alcaraz expressed his pleasure at returning to competitors, lacking the gang, power, and total aggressive ambiance.
IMAGE: Carlos Alcaraz getures to the gang 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 match’s largest query marks, having not performed since April on account of a wrist damage, however he had his finest 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 very powerful 5 months for me,” stated Alcaraz. “I missed it – I missed the gang, the power, I missed competitors, I missed all the pieces.”
Alcaraz bought a quick US Open warm-up within the blended doubles with associate Serena Williams final week, and the gang at Arthur Ashe Stadium was all too pleased to see him return, heaping deafening cheers on the twice champion as he took to the courtroom.
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 sport and appeared 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 sport, 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 complete management within the third set, the place he transformed a break level along with his highly effective forehand.
“There have been some doubts throughout 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 successful 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, organising a second-round assembly with South African Lloyd Harris in a match the place he has often struggled.
“It’s totally simple 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 right now. It is an vital, good victory for me, for my confidence.”
Tsitsipas stated ending a training relationship along 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 below the steerage 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 along with his father once more earlier than Wimbledon this 12 months and introduced in Thomas Perrin to his crew 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 slightly bit extra calm into my tennis world,” Tsitsipas informed reporters after beating Fils.
“There was numerous chaos surrounding me earlier than and numerous noise. It took, for me, a very long time to determine it out and realise that I simply can’t 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 principle draw to fifteen days in 2025.
Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova bought 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 a great day for the Individuals on the most important of the out of doors 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 pressured 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.
