Carlos Alcaraz returned to competitive tennis on Monday, September 1, defeating Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the 2026 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York [1, 2, 3, 4]. The 20-year-old Spanish player came back after a four-month injury break due to a wrist problem that forced him to withdraw from major events including the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year [2, 3].

Alcaraz, who is the defending US Open men's champion and currently ranked world number three, described missing many aspects of competition during his time off. "It’s been a really tough five months for me. Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament. It’s a really special place for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything," he said [2].

He admitted feeling "really really nervous" before the match but said he was able to compete pain-free and confidently, especially with his forehand and net play. "I was playing normal, playing my style, and the arm, the wrist, everything, you know, felt great," Alcaraz added [3].

Alcaraz has seven Grand Slam titles to his name, including the 2026 Australian Open where he completed his career Grand Slam [2, 4]. His first-round win over Safiullin set the tone for his return after months away.

The tournament saw a major upset on August 31 when Novak Djokovic, seeded fourth, lost in five sets to Mariano Navone, marking his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years [2, 4]. Meanwhile, the event was without the top-ranked Jannik Sinner due to a knee injury [2, 4].

On the women's side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also won her first-round match on September 1, beating Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4. Sabalenka recorded 32 winners despite 23 unforced errors in the match. She praised her opponent’s fight but said she aimed to stay aggressive to close the match in straight sets [2, 4].

Alcaraz will next face a second-round opponent in the coming days as the US Open continues.