US Open 2026 results: Carlos Alcaraz beats Roman Safiullin on singles return
Tennis star Carlos Alcaraz returned to the US Open after a four-month injury hiatus, securing a straight-sets victory against Roman Safiullin. The Spaniard expressed gratitude for his return to competitive play.
Why it matters
Marks the return of a major athlete to the Grand Slam circuit, impacting the competitive landscape of professional tennis.
Figure caption, Alcaraz cruises to US Open second round after four-month hiatus
After a 139-day wait, Carlos Alcaraz is back to winning ways on the singles court.
The seven-time major winner walked on to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday to begin his US Open title defence after spending just over four months on the sidelines with a wrist injury.
And he delighted fans with his entertaining brand of tennis and infectious energy as he beat Russia's Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Alcaraz was forced to watch from the sidelines as rivals Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner lifted the French Open and Wimbledon titles this summer.
However, the Spaniard is finally back - and grateful to be competing again.
"I missed the crowd, the energy, the competition – I missed everything," a smiling Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.
"I'm just really, really happy that I was able to compete again."
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