Defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz stared down an early exit, fighting back from a set down against world number 72 Jaime Faria in a brutal second-round test. Coming off a long-term wrist injury, Alcaraz needed time to find his rhythm, but man, did he find it, dominating the last three sets to keep his title defense alive.
The Wrist, The Rhythm, The Fightback
Alcaraz, just 23, looked a little shaky early on as he continues his comeback from a long-term injury to his playing right wrist. This is his first tournament back since mid-April, so everyone’s been wondering how his body would hold up. He dropped the first set 4-6, and you could feel the tension, but then something clicked. The turning point? He fought off two break points in the very first game of the second set. From there, it was a clinic, winning 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 against Faria in the New York night session.
The dude even said it was a “tough match.” Alcaraz admitted, “I felt great in the first set, but I didn’t take time and that cost me.” But that focus came through. “After that I tried to be focused, stay calm and think the good things will happen.” He wasn’t kidding! He’s not holding back on his forehand either, saying, “I have to hit like I was hitting before the injury. I’m feeling great. There is no reason to be afraid and not hitting normal.” This is the same guy who completed his career Grand Slam with the Australian Open title earlier this year and is a seven-time Grand Slam champion, with two US Open wins already under his belt. He crushed Roman Safiullin in straight sets in the first round too.
An Open Road to the Title?
Questions swirled after his first match about how Alcaraz would physically pull up two days later. Sweeping aside Faria in those final three sets answered that question emphatically. Playing four sets was actually “really good for me to test everything physically, to test my body, how I feel, and how I’m going to feel tomorrow after this match,” he said after the Faria match. The stakes are huge now, because the path to the title feels wide open. Jannik Sinner is out with an injury, and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic is already gone!
Alcaraz’s next challenge is China’s Wu Yibing, ranked 113th in the world, in the last 32. This feels like another crucial test for his body and momentum. Meanwhile, American 20th seed Tommy Paul, a potential fourth-round opponent, kept his run going by beating Croatia’s Dino Prizmic 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Paul now faces Kazakh 15th seed Alexander Bublik, who cruised past Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-1, 6-1. Eighth seed Ben Shelton is also on a quest to be the first American men’s champion since Andy Roddick in 2003, winning 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 over Hubert Hurkacz. All eyes are on how Alcaraz handles his next opponent and if his body can keep up this insane pace.
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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