Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes ‘Doubts’ In U.S. Open Return: ‘I Missed Everything’

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 31: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts against Roman Safiullin during their Men’s Singles First Round match on Day Two of the 2026 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, 2026 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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Serving for the match in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz closed on the net and deftly put away a touch forehand volley for a winner.

As he retreated to the baseline, the shaggy-haired defending champion pointed to his right ear and encouraged the crowd to cheer, which they did in full-throated approval under the closed Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.

The No. 2 seed was making his first official appearance on a singles court in 4 1/2 months following a wrist injury suffered at Barcelona in April but did not display much rust at all in dispatching Russia’s Roman Safiullin, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

“There was some doubts in this match, I’m not going to lie,” Alcaraz told ESPN’s Mary Joe Fernandez on court. “Am I going to last [if it went] four sets, playing five sets? I don’t know so I have a little bit of doubts.

“But I try to forget everything. I try to be focused on the things that I had to do, and the things that I just had to try to prove…and just let it go.”

Alcaraz, the seven-time major champion and two-time U.S. Open winner, is the betting favorite here in New York despite not playing since April. With world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (knee) not entered and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic stunned in the first round Sunday night, it’s Alcaraz’s tournament to win if he can work his into the draw.

Still, winning seven best-of-five matches is no easy trick. He next faces Jaime Faria of Portugal, who took out American Jenson Brooksby in the first round. That will likely be a night match on Wednesday.

“He’s looking like himself,” John McEnroe said of Alcaraz on ESPN. “We were all wondering how rusty he would be. It doesn’t seem like there’s a whole lot there.”

“I’m very optimistic of what I’ve seen,” McEnroe added. “You gotta be feeling good if you’re Alcaraz.”

Alcaraz is bidding to become the first man since newly-minted Hall of Famer Roger Federer to win back-to-back titles in New York. Federer won five in a row from 2004-08, but no man has done it since.

“Probably just because it’s the last one [of the year] and the players are a bit weary,” said McEnroe, who won the Open three straight years from 1979-81 and again during his brilliant 1984 campaign.

McEnroe pointed out that “The Big 3” of Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal “- plus Andy Murray – “made it difficult” for anyone to repeat during that era.

Alcaraz now has one match under his belt but his draw could get tricky.

Assuming he gets through a couple of rounds, Alcaraz could potentially face No. 15 seed Alexander Bublik or No. 20 American Tommy Paul in the fourth round.

Alcaraz is 1-0 vs. Bublik and 6-2 vs. Paul, but Paul has two wins over Alcaraz on outdoor hardcourts.

“I love Tommy Paul getting through there and that’s the matchup that I think could really test Carlos Alcaraz,” ESPN’s James Blake, a former world No. 4, said on air after the draw came out. “And we can see where is that wrist, where is the fitness how is he feeling because Tommy Paul will push you.”

Blake added: “Tommy Paul can play physical. He’s one of the fittest players on tour, he can get to so many balls, he’s one of the best movers, he’s really got an all-around game [and] can do everything. He’s comfortable moving forward. He’s comfortable playing defense, so he can cause Carlos some problems. He can force Carlos to have to play well. He may not overpower him but he can force Carlos to play his best tennis.”

Fernandez also pointed to Paul as a difficult potential opponent for Alcaraz.

“When Alcaraz is at his best, Tommy Paul is one of the guys that stays with him because of that speed, because of how well he moves around the court. He is a physical player so I would really be interested if that were to be a matchup in the fourth round.”

For now, Alcaraz is just thrilled to be back in New York in front of the fans.

“I couldn’t be [more] excited to come back to the U.S. Open in New York,” he said. “Special place to be, special tournament for me.

“I try to enjoy as much as I can. I missed it. I missed the crowd, the energy. I missed the competition. I missed everything.”