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Carlos Alcaraz had not played an official singles match for more than four months. For a player who thrives on rhythm, instinct, and sometimes absurd bursts of acceleration, his opening at the US Open was therefore the equivalent of a full-scale medical test. The verdict is clear: a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roman Safiullin, no sets dropped, and above all, an arm that held up.
A serious comeback, not a recital
The score gives an impression of control, and that impression is not false.
The score gives an impression of control, and that impression is not false. Alcaraz took the match by the right end, without trying to turn his return into a constant exhibition. Against Safiullin, ranked 99th in the world, the Spaniard mainly did what a favorite must do in the first round: apply enough pressure to never let his opponent believe in an opening for long.
There were spectacular points, inevitably. With Alcaraz, even adjustments sometimes look like trailer clips. But the most important thing was elsewhere. After an absence related to a wrist injury, he needed to check his ability to strike freely, defend in the corners, and withstand long sequences without tensing up.
Safiullin had his moments, particularly on serve, with more aces than his opponent. Yet he failed to create any real uncertainty. Alcaraz played the break points better, held his more delicate service games more effectively, and maintained enough of a cushion to finish in three sets.
The wrist at the center of everything
The main takeaway from this victory is not just the result. It is the physical condition Alcaraz displayed. He played with visible protection on his arm and served with a degree of caution, but the signs were encouraging. His forehand had regained speed, his movement showed no obvious hesitation, and his body language remained positive.
The context matters. Returning at a Grand Slam, on hard court, in New York, without many competitive reference points, is not exactly a quiet comeback at the local club. Arthur Ashe Stadium amplifies everything: the expectations, the noise, the small hesitations. Alcaraz moved through that noise with welcome composure.
He did not need to be perfect. That is actually rather good news. A comeback that is too brilliant can conceal weaknesses; this one showed a focused player, still finding his range, but already capable of beating a dangerous opponent cleanly if he catches fire.
A title defense launched with method
As the defending champion, Alcaraz arrives in New York with a particular status. He is not merely returning to competition: he is defending a crown, points, and a place in a men’s hierarchy where every physical warning weighs heavily. His first round does not answer every question, but it already closes the most urgent one: yes, he can play a full best-of-five-sets match without grimacing at every acceleration.
What comes next will demand more. The following rounds will test his stamina, his serve, his ability to string efforts together, and his capacity to recover his automatic patterns in suffocating moments. At this stage, the goal is not to promise a triumphant fortnight. It is to acknowledge that his US Open is truly underway, and that it no longer looks like a comeback under constant supervision.
For the tournament, this is excellent sporting news. A fully operational Alcaraz changes the balance of the draw. For his rivals, it is a fairly simple reminder: even after a long layoff, the Spaniard does not need much room to become a nightmare to play against again.