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 on Monday.
Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colours, 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 triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, ’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,” she added. Sabalenka hasn’t reached a final since capturing the prestigious “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami in March.