NEW YORK — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn’t miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open.
Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colors, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also made it safely into the second round.
“It’s been a really tough five months for me,” Alcaraz said.
“Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn’t decide to come back in a better tournament. It’s a really special place for me.
“I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything.”
Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with major titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
The performance might not have been peak Alcaraz, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed his powerful forehand with increasing confidence and displayed his familiar touch at the net.
“I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure,” said Alcaraz, who said he was most proud that he was able to quell his own doubts about his fitness.
“I tried to forget everything, I tried to enjoy,” he said according to AFP.
Alcaraz’s smooth progress into the second round came less than 24 hours after an ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone.
The tournament was already missing top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who has a knee injury, and Djokovic’s exit removed another possible obstacle for Alcaraz, who could have met the Serb in the semi-finals.
Aggressive Sabalenka
Sabalenka’s bid for a rare US Open three-peat comes during a worrying drop in form, but the Belarusian star rose to the occasion in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio.
She was slowed by 23 unforced errors but belted 32 winners to more than compensate, her thunderous groundstrokes proving enough to see off a counter-punching opponent who stepped up her game in the second set.
“She brought the fight,” Sabalenka said. “She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible.
“I think I played great. She’s a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I’m happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets,” she added.
Sabalenka hasn’t reached a final since capturing the prestigious “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami in March.
