Alcaraz makes winning return after four-month injury layoff

Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz shone in the opening round on his return after a four-month injury absence, winning in straight sets.

The Spaniard successfully passed his first test, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, CE Report quotes STA.

Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka also comfortably advanced to the second round.

“It has been a really tough five months for me,” Alcaraz said after his victory. “To step onto the Arthur Ashe court and compete again ... I couldn't have chosen a better tournament for my return. This is a really special place for me.”

“I just tried to enjoy it as much as possible. I missed the crowd, the energy and the competition. I missed everything,” added the Spanish star, who was world No. 1 before his injury.

Alcaraz is aiming to round off the season with another title after becoming the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the Australian Open in January.

Although this performance may not have been his best, the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed increasingly confident forehands and displayed his trademark finesse at the net.

“I think my level of tennis will definitely improve,” Alcaraz said, adding that he was most proud of overcoming his own doubts about his physical fitness.

Alcaraz cruised into the second round less than 24 hours after a struggling Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in the past 20 years.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent from the tournament due to a knee problem, while Djokovic’s elimination removed another potential obstacle for Alcaraz, who could otherwise have faced the Serbian star in the semifinals.

Belarusian star Sabalenka has been dealing with a worrying dip in form, but there was no sign of it this time as she defeated Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4.

Despite making 23 unforced errors, she made up for them with 32 winners and signalled her bid for a third consecutive title in New York.

“I think I played great. She is a tough opponent, and you have to work really hard for every point, so I'm happy that I managed to win the match in two sets,” Sabalenka said after the match.

Sabalenka had not reached a final since winning tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami in March.

Poland’s Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam singles champion, also comfortably advanced to the second round with a straight-sets victory over China’s Wang Xiyu.

The eighth seed, who defeated Sabalenka on her way to her only US Open title in 2022, beat her Chinese opponent 6-2, 6-3.

“It was a successful working day,” Swiatek said after the match, adding: “I felt pretty good from the beginning, I had the energy and the right intensity. I hope it stays that way.”

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas brought France’s Arthur Fils back down to earth after the Frenchman had entered the tournament in excellent form following his first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati. Tsitsipas won 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 to claim his first victory over the 22-year-old Fils in their six meetings.

“I have no words, I don't know what to say,” said Tsitsipas, a former top-five player who has dropped to 53rd in the world rankings. “This is an incredible start to the tournament.”

Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany is set to begin his campaign today, while eighth-seeded American Ben Shelton also advanced after overcoming a difficult start to defeat the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor.

In the final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Naomi Osaka, who has won four Grand Slam titles including two US Opens, defeated Anastasia Zakharova.

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