Alcaraz starts US Open comeback against Roman Safiullin

Carlos Alcaraz opens his US Open title defence against Roman Safiullin in a first-round test that doubles as the Spaniard's first serious fitness check after more than four months out with a right-wrist injury. The second seed has not played competitive singles since mid-April.

Key Takeaways

• Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz draws Russia's Roman Safiullin in the US Open first round.
• Alcaraz has not played a competitive singles match since 13 April at the Barcelona Open due to right-wrist inflammation.
• He returned to court in US Open mixed doubles with Serena Williams earlier this week.
• Alcaraz said his wrist is “going really well” after intense practice ahead of the opener.
• Jessica Pegula called the four-month jump back into Slam tennis a “tough thing to do.”

The seven-time major champion missed the French Open and Wimbledon after inflammation in his playing right wrist. Surgery was not required. Rival Jannik Sinner is also absent with a knee injury, leaving Alcaraz widely viewed as a title favourite despite the layoff.

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Who is Roman Safiullin and why is this draw tricky?

Roman Safiullin, 29, brings a hefty serve and attacking groundstrokes. According to BBC Sport, he reached the Wimbledon fourth round last month before losing to Novak Djokovic and is not an ideal opener for a player easing back into five-set Slam tennis.

Their head-to-head stands at 1-1. Safiullin is expected to take time away from Alcaraz, pressure him at the baseline, and make the Spaniard feel uncomfortable in his first serious singles examination since April.

How is Alcaraz’s wrist holding up before the match?

Hours before the opener, Alcaraz said practice at home and sessions in New York, plus mixed doubles, had helped. “Well, it's going really well, to be honest,” he told Athlon Sports via Yahoo. He cited long, intense practices “just to see how the wrist is going to react” and said he is “excited” for the tournament.

In mixed doubles with Serena Williams he wore a long compression sleeve on his right arm and appeared to hold back on serve and return as he eased into match play. A best-of-five singles bout is another physical step up.

What are players saying about Alcaraz’s US Open return?

American Jessica Pegula, after beating Elena-Gabriela Ruse in straight sets, said she could not see herself making the same kind of return after more than four months without a competitive match. “I thought, ‘Wow, that's a tough thing to do,’ but I think he's kind of a special player, obviously,” she said.

Pegula noted that best-of-five gives Alcaraz more room to shake off rust than women's best-of-three. “I think if he can win his first couple of rounds, he's gonna find his form very, very fast,” she added.

If Alcaraz clears Safiullin, projected paths by seeding include Tommy Paul or Alexander Bublik in the last 16, Arthur Fils or Ben Shelton in the quarters, and a possible Djokovic semi-final—tests that will show how the wrist stands up in New York heat.