Carlos Alcaraz is back on the singles court after a grueling 139-day wait, and he just absolutely lit up Arthur Ashe Stadium. The seven-time major winner, defending his US Open title, smashed Russia’s Roman Safiullin in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 6-4, on Monday. This kid hadn’t played a singles match since winning the first round of the Barcelona Open back in April, so you know he was hungry.
The Energy Is Infectious, The Forehand Is Unleashed
Seriously, you could feel the energy pouring off the 23-year-old. He walked out there after over four months on the sidelines with a wrist injury, and he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. Alcaraz was flashing that entertaining brand of tennis and infectious energy that makes him so fun to watch. He said it himself, “I missed the crowd, the energy, the competition , I missed everything.” You could tell, too! He was smiling after points, singing along to Michael Jackson during a change of ends, and even pointing to his ear, demanding more noise from the crowd after a ridiculous drop shot in his final service game.
Even with a compression sleeve on his right arm, Alcaraz unleashed that trademark forehand with familiar ferocity. That whippy stroke accounted for the majority of his 28 winners against Safiullin. He even said his “feeling was that I was hitting normal” and “playing my style.” Former Wimbledon champ Pat Cash noted how “every little win” was celebrated, and honestly, you gotta love that passion. This guy is here to enjoy it, and the results, he says, “it’s going to come after all.”
The Serve Needs Work, But Don’t Doubt The Champ
Okay, so it wasn’t all perfect. While the forehand was cooking and those delicate drop shots were on point, his serve wasn’t exactly threatening. He managed just two aces but coughed up five double faults. That’s not ideal, even if he did land 68% of his first serves and won 66% of those points. Alcaraz admitted, “The serve is the shot I was struggling the most.” He added that a slower serve was an intentional tactic to catch Safiullin out, but still, he knows it’s an area for improvement. “I’m going try to serve better… But it will be back, for sure.”
He’s bidding to become the first player to defend the US Open men’s singles title since Roger Federer ripped off five in a row between 2004 and 2008. That’s a huge mountain to climb, but after a 139-day layoff, seeing him back, happy, and already demanding more from himself? You absolutely love to see it. He’s got work to do, but this guy is a champion for a reason. Get ready, Flushing Meadows, because this could be wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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