Alcaraz returns to US Open with victory, Sabalenka three-peat bid still on

NEW YORK (AP):

Carlos Alcaraz was nervous. He was excited. Best of all, he was pain-free.

Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 yesterday, showing no ill effects from the right wrist injury that had sidelined the 23-year-old Spaniard since April.

“I don’t know how it looked from outside, but from inside, my feeling was that I was hitting normal,” Alcaraz said. “I was playing pretty normal, playing my style, and yeah, the arm, the wrist, everything felt great.”

In that case, do not rule out a successful title defence.

Following fellow two-time US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka on to Arthur Ashe Stadium, the second-seeded Alcaraz looked increasingly comfortable as the match progressed and displayed the all-court game that has made him a fan favourite in New York. He held his hand to his ear to encourage louder cheers and pumped his fist after a delicate volley winner in the final game of the match.

Alcaraz could become even bigger favourite

Forced to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, Alcaraz decided he was ready to return at the US Open, stepping straight back into Grand Slam competition without playing a warm-up event.

“I had more nerves than usual, but just happy, because, for me, my goal here is to compete, to enjoy, and let’s see how my body’s going to react after the matches, after the competition again,” Alcaraz said.

“I don’t know how far I’m going to go in the tournament. I didn’t know if I was going to lose this one, if I’m going to make the second round, final. I don’t know how far I’m going to go. 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.”

No man has won consecutive US Open titles since Roger Federer captured five straight crowns from 2004 to 2008. If Alcaraz remains healthy, the seven-time Grand Slam champion could quickly emerge as the overwhelming favourite, with top-ranked Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic suffering a first-round defeat on Sunday.

With the tournament rocked by that result, Djokovic having entered 19-0 in US Open first-round matches and won four of his men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles at Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka restored a measure of normality.

Sabalenka likes the look of her outfit and her game

Sabalenka beat Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-4 to launch her bid to become the first player since Serena Williams, from 2012 to 2014, to win three consecutive US Open titles.

She has reached the last three US Open finals, rebounding from a loss to Coco Gauff in 2023 by winning the title in 2024 before defeating Amanda Anisimova last year to successfully defend her crown.

“I feel like this is one of my favourite stadiums,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterwards. “I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.”

She was undoubtedly happier with the tennis she produced yesterday after a string of disappointing results heading into the US Open. She exited in the fourth round in both Toronto and Cincinnati after also falling at the same stage at Wimbledon.

Those results have left Sabalenka needing help to retain her No. 1 ranking, even if she triumphs again in New York. Second-ranked Elena Rybakina will overtake her by reaching the semi-finals and would not need to win a match if Sabalenka fails to defend her title.