Carlos Alcaraz returned from a wrist injury to defeat Roman Safiullin in straight sets at the U.S. Open in New York, while Aryna Sabalenka also advanced with a victory over Camila Osorio on Monday.
Tennis returned to Flushing Meadows with high-stakes drama on the opening days of the tournament, featuring successful comebacks, unexpected exits, and emotional farewells on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Carlos Alcaraz Returns Pain-Free From Wrist Injury
Carlos Alcaraz showed no lingering effects from the right wrist injury that sidelined the 23-year-old Spaniard since April. Playing without a warmup event after missing both the French Open and Wimbledon, Alcaraz secured a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roman Safiullin on Monday.
“I don’t know how it looked from outside, but from inside, my feeling was that I was hitting normal,” Alcaraz said. “I was playing pretty normal, playing my style, and yeah, the arm, the wrist, everything felt great.”
Carlos Alcaraz
The No. 2-seeded player grew more comfortable as the match progressed, encouraging louder cheers from the New York crowd and celebrating a volley winner in the final game. Alcaraz acknowledged entering the tournament with elevated nerves but expressed relief at his physical condition.
“I had more nerves than usual, but just happy, because, for me, my goal here is to compete, to enjoy, and let’s see how my body’s going to react after the matches, after the competition again,” Alcaraz said. “I don’t know how far I’m going to go in the tournament. I didn’t know if I was going to lose this one, if I’m going to make the second round, final. I don’t know how far I’m going to go. But what I just really want to do is enjoy every time that I’m going to walk into the court feeling the energy from the people, feel the competition.”
With top-ranked Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and No. 4 Novak Djokovic losing in the U.S. Open’s first round for the first time on Sunday, Alcaraz enters the tournament as a prominent favorite. No man has won consecutive U.S. Open titles since Roger Federer claimed five straight victories from 2004 to 2008.
Aryna Sabalenka Advances and Discusses Wardrobe Confusion
Following Alcaraz on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Aryna Sabalenka began her pursuit of history by defeating Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka is aiming to become the first player to win three consecutive U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams accomplished the feat from 2012 to 2014.
Sabalenka reached the previous three tournament finals, falling to Coco Gauff in 2023 before capturing back-to-back titles in 2024 and topping Amanda Anisimova last year to repeat.
“I feel like this is one of my favorite stadiums,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterward. “I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.”
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Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka debuted a revised wardrobe choice on Monday, wearing an orange Nike outfit covered by orange mesh instead of the black mesh from her mixed doubles match alongside Djokovic last week. Addressing social media commentary regarding her attire, Sabalenka clarified that the change stemmed from simple scheduling logistics.
“To be honest, I didn’t know that I have a day dress. I thought I have a black dress with orange underneath. I figured (out) when I went to Nike that I actually have day session and night session, which is just like black and orange for the day.”
Aryna Sabalenka
Despite the opening victory, Sabalenka enters New York needing ranking assistance to protect her No. 1 standing following fourth-round exits at Wimbledon, Toronto, and Cincinnati. No. 2 Elena Rybakina can overtake her by reaching the semifinals.
Stan Wawrinka Bids Farewell While Stefanos Tsitsipas Advances
Monday’s schedule also marked the end of an era for three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka. The 41-year-old Swiss player, who won the U.S. Open in 2016, played his final Grand Slam match in a loss to Matteo Berrettini.
“I’m going to miss it for sure. I’m going to miss it big time,”
Stan Wawrinka
Elsewhere in the tournament, another top-10 seed exited as Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas, unseeded at the U.S. Open for the first time, expressed optimism about regaining the form that carried him to the No. 3 ranking. Meanwhile, No. 8 Ben Shelton rebounded from a difficult start to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2, and No. 8 Iga Swiatek and Sloane Stephens also advanced.
Carlos Alcaraz On-Court Interview | 2026 US Open Round 1
