Alcaraz clears another US Open hurdle as Sabalenka scares off another rival

Carlos Alcaraz had to come from behind, but the defending US Open men's champion found the answers against Portugal's Jaime Faria and took another step in his return from a four-month injury layoff.

Faria, ranked 72nd in the world, offered a tougher test than Alcaraz's first-round opponent, Roman Safiullin. He took the opening set from the Spanish star, who settled his nerves and changed the momentum. Alcaraz won the second set without dropping a game, took the third 6-3 and closed out the match 6-2 after two hours and 40 minutes.

“

It was a difficult match for me.

“It was a difficult match for me,” Alcaraz said. He introduced a new celebration after winning, mimicking the firing of an arrow toward the stands. His younger brothers were watching from the player box and had asked him to perform the gesture if he won. “They did it from the box and I did it from the court, so that celebration was for them,” he explained.

“

They did it from the box and I did it from the court, so that celebration was for them.

Alcaraz's next opponent will be China's Wu Yibing, ranked 113th. Alcaraz won their only previous meeting, in 2024.

The tournament also delivered a painful debut for 19-year-old Rafael Jódar. The Spanish prospect, seeded 12th after reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinals and the Montreal Masters 1000 semifinals, lost 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 to China's Bu Yunchaokete, ranked 124th. Bu entered the draw late after an injury withdrawal and earned the first Grand Slam victory of his career. “I am new to the tour, and things like this will happen,” Jódar said. Peru's Ignacio Buse also advanced by defeating American Marcos Giron in five sets.

“

I am new to the tour, and things like this will happen.