Back on Court After a Long Absence
Carlos Alcaraz has not played a singles match since suffering a right wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April, making his upcoming US Open first-round encounter one of the most closely watched matches of the entire tournament. Speaking at Flushing Meadows during US Open Media Day on a live episode of Andy Roddick's podcast "Served," the seven-time Grand Slam champion sounded upbeat but realistic about where his game stands.
Alcaraz described an intensive week of practice back home before travelling to New York as a genuine test of his wrist's readiness, with long and physically demanding training sessions designed to gauge how the injury would hold up. He also credited his participation in the US Open mixed doubles event, where he partnered Serena Williams, as a valuable confidence boost. The pair advanced to the quarter-finals before their run ended, giving Alcaraz some welcome competitive court time heading into the main draw.
A Honest Assessment of a Tough First Round
Alcaraz will open his title defence against Roman Safiullin, currently ranked 98th in the world, and the Spaniard was candid about the challenge that represents. Their head-to-head record is level at 1-1, and Alcaraz noted that Safiullin grows more comfortable the longer rallies continue, making rhythm a key factor in how the match unfolds.
After initially enjoying downtime with family and friends during the first couple of months away from the tour, Alcaraz admitted he eventually found himself missing competition deeply, even watching major tournaments like the French Open and Wimbledon from the sidelines. Now fully focused on his first-round preparation, the reigning champion is eager to get started.
TennisDraw users have been closely tracking Alcaraz's bracket prospects ever since news of his return broke.
