“Carlos Alcaraz impresses with victory upon returning to the US Open.”

Carlos Alcaraz surprised by winning his debut at the US Open, following a remarkable recovery from a wrist injury that kept him out of competition for more than four months. The young Spanish tennis player, the current champion of the tournament, defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, in the first round of the tournament taking place in 2026.

Greg Rusedski, former world number 4 and US Open finalist in 1997, praised Alcaraz's performance, calling it “very impressive” on his podcast “Off Court With Greg Rusedski.” Rusedski highlighted that Alcaraz was fortunate for the match to be decided in three sets, avoiding a prolonged physical battle. “The truth is he was very lucky that it was a straight-sets match. If it had gone to four or five sets, and if it had been a physical encounter…” Rusedski commented.

The former player also analyzed Safiullin's performance, mentioning that the opponent can be inconsistent, which may have helped Alcaraz. “Safiullin can be nervous, and we saw that he lost points he should have won, and the tension affected him. So, this was the perfect opening for him,” Rusedski stated. However, the true test for Alcaraz will be when he faces an opponent who pushes him to a more demanding and extended match.

Alcaraz's wrist situation remains uncertain, and Rusedski questions whether the player will be able to maintain his level in matches that require high physical endurance, such as those occurring in Grand Slam tournaments. “The only question mark is, how is the wrist today? How will it be in the next match? And can he maintain this performance in a three-set tournament?” he emphasized.

Alcaraz's victory places him in a favorable position to continue defending his title, but the pressure and physical demands of the subsequent matches will be crucial in determining his success throughout the tournament.