Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to defeat Portugal’s Jaime Faria in four sets under the floodlights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, securing his passage into the third round of the US Open 2026. The Spanish second seed dropped the opening set against his hard-hitting opponent before executing a comprehensive turnaround, sealing a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory in two hours and 40 minutes.
Carlos Alcaraz Moves Into US Open 3rd Round
Early Pressure on Ashe
Faria, ranked 72nd in the world, settled into the contest quickly, troubling the reigning champion with powerful serving that frequently crossed 140 mph.
The Portuguese outsider capitalised on early groundstroke errors from Alcaraz, securing a crucial service break in the seventh game before calmly closing out the opening set 6-4.
Faria carried that momentum into the early exchanges of the second set, generating two break points in the opening game as Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm during his first evening session of the fortnight.
The Turning Point
Alcaraz held his nerve to fend off both break threats, sparking an immediate change in tempo.The Spaniard responded by winning eight consecutive games, mixing deep baseline drives with delicate drop shots to dismantle Faria’s momentum. A forehand winner wrapped up a 33-minute bagel in the second set, resetting the match and visibly shifting the energy inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
From there, Alcaraz took firm command.He claimed seven breaks of serve across the contest, struck 43 winners, and won 78 per cent of his second-serve points to neutralise the Portuguese player’s attacking threat .
Tournament Context and Next Test
The victory marks another positive step in Alcaraz’s competitive comeback.The Spaniard had been sidelined for nearly five months due to a right wrist injury sustained in April, which forced him to withdraw from both the French Open and Wimbledon.
Following his straight-sets win over Roman Safiullin in round one, Wednesday night’s encounter provided the defending champion with his first extended physical test of the tournament, showing no signs of lingering wrist discomfort. Alcaraz will face China’s Wu Yibing in the third round as he continues his quest to retain the crown in New York.