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Alcaraz passes first test on US Open return as Sabalenka also advances
🇸🇮 Slovenia /Sports

Alcaraz passes first test on US Open return as Sabalenka also advances

From Delo · () Slovenian

Translated from Slovenian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open after a four-month injury absence.
  • Aryna Sabalenka defeated Camila Osorio in straight sets and began her bid for a third consecutive New York title.
  • Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ben Shelton and Naomi Osaka also advanced, while Novak Djokovic suffered an early exit.

Carlos Alcaraz returned to singles action after a four-month wrist injury absence and immediately looked comfortable on the US Open’s biggest stage.

The defending champion beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. Alcaraz said he had missed the crowd, the energy and the competition, and called the tournament a special place for his comeback.

Behind me are five very difficult months. To step onto Arthur Ashe and compete again, I could not have chosen a better tournament for my return. This is a really special place for me.

— Carlos AlcarazAlcaraz reflected on his comeback after defeating Roman Safiullin.

The Spaniard acknowledged that the performance was not his best, but he increasingly found range with his forehand and showed his usual touch at the net. More than the result, he said he was proud of overcoming doubts about his physical condition. He expects his level to improve as the tournament continues.

I tried just to enjoy it as much as possible. I missed the crowd, the energy and the competition. I missed everything.

— Carlos AlcarazThe Spaniard described his return to Grand Slam competition.

Alcaraz is seeking to complete a season that already includes an Australian Open victory, which made him the youngest player to win all four Grand Slam tournaments during his career. His path in New York also became less crowded after Novak Djokovic, weakened during his match, suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is absent with a knee problem.

Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka offered no sign of the slump that had concerned her in recent months. She beat Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4, overcoming 23 unforced errors with 32 winners. Sabalenka has not reached a final since winning Indian Wells and Miami in March, but began her bid for a third straight New York title with a confident win. Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced by beating Arthur Fils, while Ben Shelton and Naomi Osaka won their opening matches.

I think I played great. She is a tough opponent, and you have to work hard for every point, so I am happy I managed to win the match in two sets.

— Aryna SabalenkaSabalenka assessed her straight-sets victory over Camila Osorio.
About this summary

Originally published by Delo in Slovenian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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