Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the US Open third round on Wednesday, defeating Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 in his second match since returning from a right wrist injury that kept him off the tour for four months. The No. 2 seed and defending champion showed no signs of discomfort across his opening two matches at Flushing Meadows, according to the ATP Tour.
How did Alcaraz perform after dropping the first set?
Alcaraz recovered from losing the opening set to dominate the remainder of the match. After Faria earned an early break in the first set when Alcaraz missed a routine forehand, the Spaniard regrouped and reeled off eight consecutive games to take control. The second set lasted just 33 minutes, with Alcaraz settling into his rhythm while Faria's level declined. From that point forward, Alcaraz's form resembled that of a player who had not missed four months of competition, according to the ATP Tour.
What did Alcaraz say about his comeback?
Alcaraz acknowledged his early struggles in his on-court interview with the ATP Tour, stating: "The first set, I was feeling great, had a break point and a pretty easy forehand for me that I missed. I was in a rush. I didn't take time. I wasn't patient. That cost me the break. Against someone like Jaime, he's serving like 140 [mph], every serve is really difficult. After that, I just tried to be focused and stay calm and think that good things are going to happen again."
What remains to improve in his comeback?
Alcaraz's serve remains a work in progress as he continues his return to the tour. The defending champion managed just two aces against six double faults in his first-round match, though he landed 68 per cent of his first serves and won 66 per cent of the points behind it, according to BBC Sport. Alcaraz told BBC Sport that his serve was "the shot I was struggling [with] the most," though he noted that a slower serve was an intentional tactic to catch his opponent off guard.
The third round is scheduled for the coming days as Alcaraz pursues his eighth major title.
Sources
- ATP Tour: Carlos Alcaraz drops first set, then cruises to continue US Open title defence. Grant Thompson, 2026-09-03.
- BBC Sport: US Open 2026 results: Carlos Alcaraz beats Roman Safiullin on singles return. 2026-08-31.
- International Olympic Committee: US Open 2026: Carlos Alcaraz opens title defence against Roman Safiullin. 2026-08-27.
Reported from public sources.