Alcaraz wins his first match in four months, and wins it on the margins

Carlos Alcaraz had not played a competitive match since April. On Monday night he beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open, and the scoreline was considerably more comfortable than the tennis: eight points separated the two men across three hours of it, 99 to 91. But the Spaniard won the vast majority of the key points.

His next opponent will be Jaime Faria from Portugal.

The seeded No. 2 and defending the title he won here last year, has now won eight consecutive matches at this tournament. He arrived having missed Roland-Garros, the grass season and the Cincinnati Masters 1000 with the wrist injury he sustained in the spring.

Safiullin served harder, averaging 192 km/h on first serve to Alcaraz’s 181, and hit more winners, 28 to 27. The difference was in the errors and in the decisive points. Alcaraz made 27 unforced errors to Safiullin’s 35, converted four of his seven break points while his opponent took one of six, and held serve in 14 of his 15 service games. He also won 19 of his 24 points at the net.

The two had met twice and won once each, Safiullin taking their first meeting at the Paris Masters 1000 in 2023, 6-3, 6-4, and Alcaraz winning at the Paris Olympics the following year, 6-4, 6-2.

For me it’s been a really tough 5 months. I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York

“I missed everything”, Alcaraz said to the fans on court. “For me it’s been a really tough 5 months. Being able to step on Arthur Ashe and being able to compete again… I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament than here in New York. It’s a really special tournament for me. I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd. The energy. I missed competition. I missed everything. I’m just really really happy I was able to compete again.”

“On this court, I made my dream. First major. First time becoming #1 in the world. Everyone I come here it’s just really really special. The warm welcome I receive every time I come here is crazy. I really appreciate it. I really feel the love from the people. Once the tournament is finished, the feeling I have is that I can’t wait to be back here next year. I’m just trying to enjoy every time I come here to New York, so thank you.”

US OPEN 2026, Round 1, men’s singles

Zverev [1] vs Sonego – not played
Halys vs Diaz Acosta – not played
Dimitrov (Q) vs Popyrin – not played
A. Tabilo [25] d. Hanfmann: 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-3
Darderi [21] vs Wendelken (Q) – not played
D. Svrcina (Q) d. Royer: 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-2
Sweeny (W) vs Moutet – not played
Fery vs Musetti [13] – not played
Jodar [12] vs Kokkinakis – not played
Marozsan vs Zheng (W) – not played
Svajda vs Altmaier – not played
Cerundolo vs Gea (L) – not played
Bergs [31] vs Taberner – not played
De Jong vs Passaro (Q) – not played
Choinski vs Van de Zandschulp – not played
Guerrieri (Q) vs De Minaur [6] – not played
Auger-Aliassime [3] vs Hijikata – not played
Burruchaga vs Khachanov – not played
Molcan vs Bonzi – not played
Giron vs Buse [32] – not played
Mensik [17] vs Mochizuki (L) – not played
J. Rodionov (Q) d. Mpetshi Perricard: 7-6(2), 6-0, 7-6(4)
Vallejo vs Monfils (W) – not played
Borges vs Tien [14] – not played
Fritz [9] vs Blanch (W) – not played
Bellucci vs Piros (Q) – not played
Ugo Carabelli vs Struff – not played
Misolic vs F. Cerundolo [24] – not played
A. Blockx [28] d. Barrios Vera (Q): 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
Shang vs Trungelliti – not played
Basavareddy (Q) vs Schoolkate (Q) – not played
Comesana vs Cobolli [5] – not played
D. Medvedev [7] d. Gaston (Q): 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
S. Gorzny (W) d. Collignon: 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(9)
J. Munar d. Atmane: 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-5
A. Rinderknech [26] d. Shimabukuro: 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2
V. Vacherot [22] d. Kovacevic: 6-2, 6-3, 7-5
K. Majchrzak d. Medjedovic: 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
R. Sakamoto (Q) d. Vukic: 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Damm vs Tiafoe [11] – not played
B. Nakashima [16] d. Baez: 6-2, 6-1, 6-0
A. Michelsen d. Cina (Q): 6-4, 6-1, 6-0
D. Merida d. Fucsovics: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
A. Rublev [23] d. Virtanen (L): 6-7(5), 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-2, 7-6(5)
T. Etcheverry [27] d. Kopriva: 6-3, 6-4, 6-0
J. Fearnley (L) d. Landaluce: 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
M. Berrettini d. Wawrinka (W): 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0
M. Navone d. Djokovic [4]: 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1
Shelton [8] vs Griekspoor – not played
H. Hurkacz d. Dzumhur: 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
D. Shapovalov d. Kecmanovic: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
L. Van Assche d. Norrie [29]: 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
J. Lehecka [18] d. Carreno Busta: 6-1, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-2
T. Samuel (Q) d. Machac: 6-2, 6-3, 6-2
L. Harris (Q) d. Kennedy (W): 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
S. Tsitsipas d. Fils [10]: 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4
A. Bublik [15] d. Wolf (W): 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
A. Mannarino d. Tirante: 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
D. Prizmic d. Shevchenko: 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5
T. Paul [20] d. Wong (Q): 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
J. Duckworth d. Arnaldi [30]: 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(8)
Y. Wu d. Walton: 7-6(2), 6-2, 7-5
J. Faria d. Brooksby: 6-3, 7-6(4), 4-6, 1-6, 6-2
C. Alcaraz [2] d. Safiullin: 6-4, 6-4, 6-4