Carlos Alcaraz successfully navigated his return to Grand Slam competition on Sunday, securing a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory against Roman Safiullin in the first round of the US Open. The match marked the Spaniard’s first singles appearance in over four and a half months, following an extended absence due to a wrist injury that had sidelined him since April.
The match was highlighted by a moment of characteristic brilliance late in the opening set. With a 5-4 lead and sitting at 30-15, Alcaraz charged the net behind a wide serve. When Safiullin countered with a difficult dipping backhand, Alcaraz executed a delicate half-volley winner. This display of touch, followed by a quick service hold, set the tone for a comprehensive performance that saw him dominate from the baseline.
Despite concerns regarding his match fitness and the potential impact of high-pace rallies on his wrist, Alcaraz appeared in top form. He recorded 20 forehand winners while committing only nine unforced errors on that wing. Addressing his physical condition after the match, Alcaraz confirmed, “It’s pain-free right now,” adding that he felt his movement and shot-making were back to his normal standard. He noted that he plans to continue taking precautions with his wrist throughout the tournament.
Tactically, Alcaraz adopted a conservative approach on his serve, maintaining an average speed of 113mph. While he has been wearing tape under an arm sleeve during practice and match play, the lower velocity suggests a cautious strategy to protect his recovery. Although this approach limits his ability to secure free points, his baseline dominance proved sufficient to overcome Safiullin’s powerful ball striking.
Reflecting on the experience, Alcaraz admitted to significant pre-match nerves, noting that he felt more anxious than usual about his ability to compete again. With his family, team, and rapper Travis Scott watching from his player box, he described the day as both difficult and beautiful. “I started the day really nervous, thinking: ‘I’m going to make it, I’m going to compete again,’” he said.
Looking ahead, the Spaniard remains focused on the present rather than tournament projections. He emphasized that his primary goal is to enjoy the energy of the crowd and the intensity of the competition. “I don’t know how far I’m going to go in the tournament,” Alcaraz stated. “But what I just really want to do is enjoy every time that I’m going to walk into the court feeling the energy from the people, feel the competition, walking up, I’m thinking, all right, it’s match day.” The report also notes that up 5-4, 30-15 in set one, Alcaraz swept forward to the net behind a precise wide serve and, when his opponent Roman Safiullin responded with a dipping backhand return directly to his feet, Alcaraz delicately pushed a hal. The report also notes that dominating from the baseline as he fired down 20 forehand winners to just nine forehand unforced errors, he struck it brilliantly from the outset. The report also notes that there was a lot of uncertainty about his level and how his wrist might react to ramping up so dramatically to the best-of-five-sets format, with Alcaraz marking his return to competition at a grand slam tournament with no warmup or match preparation. The report also notes that this was an incredibly positive start, all things considered. The report also notes that from the beginning, Alcaraz shook off his own lingering doubts and lack of certainty about the wrist by eviscerating his own forehand, the best in the world, throughout the match. The report also notes that he hit himself out of trouble, the few times he trailed in service games. The report also notes that playing my style, and the arm, the wrist, everything felt great, i was playing pretty normal.
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