Carlos Alcaraz Returns to Tennis With Statement Win at US Open

After almost five months away from tennis, Carlos Alcaraz is back like he never left, winning his first-round match at the US Open by defeating Roman Safiullin in straight sets.

Entering the match with doubts over his match fitness, the Spaniard looked very much like the player he was before his wrist injury . He cruised into the second round while extending his winning streak at the Majors to 15 consecutive matches.

Just like in his mixed doubles match, Alcaraz showed some signs of rust early on, facing break points in the opening stages. However, it felt like facing and saving those break points woke the Spaniard up. From there, he began to build momentum.

Alcaraz eventually became the first player to break serve, with that advantage proving enough to win the opening set. The second set saw Alcaraz drop his serve early on, but remarkably, the Spaniard maintained his composure and quickly got back on serve. The World No. 3 then went a break up himself, producing a sublime forehand performance, a shot that was under the most doubt coming into the match.

Shortly after, Alcaraz went up two sets to love, a position from which he has never lost a match in his career. With the roof closed for the third set, Alcaraz took some time to adjust to the new conditions, again fending off a couple of break points. By that point, however, the Spaniard had started to grow increasingly confident from the back of the court. That confidence quickly paid off as he went up a break in the third set.

And that was all she wrote. Returning from the biggest physical setback of his career to date, Alcaraz put together an impressive performance to reach the second round of the US Open.

Entering the US Open with lower expectations than usual, the defending champion has begun his campaign tremendously. He wasted no extra time on court and looked increasingly comfortable as the match progressed.

Considering his performance, along with his chief rivals Novak Djokovic and Arthur Fils already suffering early upsets, it increasingly looks like another Major title could be on the cards. It would certainly be one of Alcaraz's more unlikely Slam triumphs. However, if the Spaniard can hold up physically, it is becoming increasingly difficult to rule him out.

Main Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images