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Alcaraz Shocked as Potential U.S. Open Semifinal Opponent Djokovic Falls in First Round

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

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

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Novak Djokovic lost in five sets in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open, an outcome Carlos Alcaraz called surprising.
  • Alcaraz, returning after more than four months out with a right-wrist injury, beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the second round.
  • Djokovic had been placed in the same half of the draw as Alcaraz, creating a potential semifinal meeting.

Carlos Alcaraz said he was surprised to see Novak Djokovic leave the 2026 U.S. Open in the first round after a five-set defeat.

Any player like him going out so early would surprise anyone.

— Carlos AlcarazAlcaraz reacted to Djokovic’s first-round defeat at the U.S. Open.

“Any player like him going out so early would surprise anyone,” Alcaraz said. Djokovic, a 39-year-old Serbian star, had been projected as a potential semifinal opponent because he was drawn in the same half of the tournament as Alcaraz.

Alcaraz returned to competition after spending more than four months out with a right-wrist injury. He quickly found his form in New York, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the second round.

I watched that match. Obviously, it was Novak’s first loss in the first round here, so it was very unexpected.

— Carlos AlcarazAlcaraz described Djokovic’s early exit from the tournament.

“I watched that match. Obviously, it was Novak’s first loss in the first round here, so it was very unexpected,” Alcaraz said. “Every Grand Slam is incredibly difficult. The semifinals are still far away for me, and right now I just want to move forward steadily, one round at a time.”

Every Grand Slam is incredibly difficult. The semifinals are still far away for me, and right now I just want to move forward steadily, one round at a time.

— Carlos AlcarazAlcaraz downplayed the potential semifinal path and focused on progressing through the tournament.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. 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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