Alcaraz Faces the Key Moment

Carlos Alcaraz’s return to competition has been more convincing than expected, but the decisive stage of the US Open now begins. After four and a half months out with a wrist injury, the world number three has reached the second week while beating opponents ranked well below him.

The 23-year-old Spaniard defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, came back to beat Portugal’s Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, and then overcame China’s Yibing Wu 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. He has won nine sets and lost one, with a 58-31 record in games.

Those results have encouraged optimism, although his opponents had not been among the circuit’s elite. Safiullin entered the tournament ranked 99th, Faria 72nd and Wu 113th. The standard now rises sharply in the round of 16, where Alcaraz will meet American Tommy Paul, ranked 21st by the ATP.

Alcaraz is trying to retain the title he won in 2025, having also lifted the trophy in 2022. He has improved as the tournament progressed in New York, easing doubts created by his long competitive absence.

The article recalls his unexpected second-round defeat at the 2024 US Open against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, then ranked 74th while Alcaraz was third. Since losing to David Goffin at the 2025 Miami Masters, Alcaraz has suffered eight defeats, only one of them in a Grand Slam: the 2025 Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner.