Alcaraz Beats Safiullin in Straight Sets on US Open Return

Carlos Alcaraz made a winning return to singles competition at the US Open, defeating Russia's Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round on Monday. BBC Sport reported that the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium was the Spaniard's first singles appearance in 139 days.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgq_gfaIPg

The seven-time major champion had spent just over four months on the sidelines because of a wrist injury. His previous singles match came in April, when he won in the opening round of the Barcelona Open. The layoff kept him out while Alexander Zverev won the French Open and Jannik Sinner took the Wimbledon title, according to the BBC report.

Alcaraz played with a compression sleeve on his right arm but was still able to use his forehand effectively. BBC Sport recorded 28 winners for the 23-year-old, with the majority coming from that side. He also used drop shots and maintained an energetic style throughout the straight-sets victory.

After the match, Alcaraz said in his on-court interview that he had missed the crowd, the energy and the competition during his absence. He added that he felt able to play his normal style and that his shots felt good from his perspective. The defending champion repeatedly celebrated points and engaged with the crowd as he closed out the match.

The result begins Alcaraz's attempt to retain the men's singles championship in New York. No man has successfully defended the US Open singles title since Roger Federer completed a run of five consecutive victories from 2004 through 2008, a benchmark noted by BBC Sport.

Alcaraz's opening performance provided a completed competitive test after the long absence, but it was only the first round of a two-week major. His physical response as the tournament progresses remains an open question following the wrist problem, while Monday's result established that he could complete three sets and advance without dropping one.