Full Breakdown
Alcaraz’s US Open Return: First Singles Match and Mixed-Doubles Spotlight
8/28/2026, 5:53:54 AM
Core Event – First Singles Match After Wrist Injury
Defending champion Carlos Alcariz of Spain returns to men’s singles competition at the 2026 U.S. Open after a four-month hiatus caused by a right-wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona Open in April. The No. 2 seed opens against Russian Roman Safiullin, ranked world No 98, in the first round. Safiullin previously upset Alcaraz at the 2023 Paris Masters and again at the Paris Olympics, giving the matchup added narrative weight. Alcaraz’s first-round opponent in the second round will be either American Jenson Brooksby (world No 73) or Portuguese Jaime Faria (world No 70).
Background & Context – Injury and Missed Majors
Alcaraz withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon after the wrist injury forced him out of competition in April. The injury also kept him from defending his title at the French Open, where he was the reigning champion. World No 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the U.S. Open with a knee injury, leaving the men’s draw unusually open.
Data & Statistics – Seedings, Rankings, Head-to-Head
- Seedings: Alcaraz – No 2 seed; Safiullin – unseeded, world No 98.
- Career vs. Safiullin: 1-1 overall; Alcaraz lost at the 2023 Paris Masters, won the 2024 Paris Olympics meeting.
- Potential Path: If Alcaraz advances, he could meet No 15 seed Alexander Bublik or No 20 seed Tommy Paul in the fourth round; both have prior wins against Alcaraz on hard courts.
Official Statements & Responses – Player Comments and Tournament Notes
Alcaraz acknowledged the rust from his lay-off, noting a double fault on his first serve and describing his nerves as “really, really nervous.” Tournament officials confirmed that the men’s singles main draw begins on August 30 (scheduled) and that the mixed-doubles event runs on the preceding days, with the mixed-doubles quarterfinals slated for the same day as Alcaraz’s singles debut.
On-the-Ground Reports – Mixed Doubles with Serena Williams
Williams, returning to Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time since 2022, partnered with Alcaraz in the revamped mixed-doubles format. The pair won their opening match 5-3, 4-1 against Erin Routliffe and Lloyd Glasspool, then fell 5-4, 4-1 to Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals. The mixed-doubles event uses four-game sets, no-ad scoring, and a 10-point match tiebreak for the deciding set.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Date of First-Round Singles Match
Sources differ on the exact day Alcaraz’s first-round singles match will be played. The USTA schedule lists August 30 as the start of main-draw play (scheduled), while some outlets suggest the match could occur later this month, pending the daily order of play. No definitive confirmation has been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I never expected to be back on this court,” — Serena Williams
- “I think everybody could see: I double-faulted on the first point,” — Carlos Alcaraz, US open champion
- “Playing Serena and Carlos in Arthur Ashe [Stadium] is not easy,” — Flavio Cobolli
- “I’m playing with the one and only Serena Williams,” — Carlos Alcaraz, US open champion
