US Open Day 2 Recap: Alcaraz Returns in Style as Sabalenka, Shelton and Swiatek Advance at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz had spent 139 days waiting to play another singles match. It took him only three sets to remind the US Open why he remains one of the most dangerous players in the draw.

The defending champion began his return from a right-wrist injury with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roman Safiullin, completing a performance that was more convincing than many expected after nearly five months away from the singles court.

Alcaraz struck more than 20 forehand winners and, more importantly, appeared able to swing freely without aggravating the injury that had sidelined him since April. He had returned briefly during the US Open mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams, but this was his first full singles examination.

“It’s been a really tough five months for me,” Alcaraz said. “I missed it — I missed the crowd, the energy, I missed competition, I missed everything.”

There were occasional signs of rust. Alcaraz surrendered an early break in the second set, but Safiullin immediately returned the advantage with a missed volley. The Spaniard then broke again in the seventh game and maintained control through a third set in which his forehand increasingly dictated play.

“I was playing pretty normal, playing my style,” Alcaraz said. “The arm, the wrist, everything felt great.”

“I’m just really happy it’s pain-free finally.”

Alcaraz will face Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round. Although he has returned as defending champion, he was reluctant to make any predictions about the next fortnight.

“I don’t know how far I’m gonna go in the tournament,” he said. “What I just really want to do is enjoy every time that I’m gonna walk into the court.”

“I’m not gonna lie. I’ve been thinking about, ‘Am I gonna last a match? … Am I gonna last playing four sets, five sets?’ I don’t know….I’m most I’m proud of, I must say that mentally I was able to deal with everything — with the nerves, with the doubts in my head — and just keep it going.“

After Novak Djokovic’s extraordinary first-round defeat to Mariano Navone on Sunday and Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal before the tournament, Alcaraz may still be working his way back to full match fitness, but Day 2 provided the first genuine evidence that he could contend for another title.

Sabalenka Begins Bid for Historic Three-Peat

Aryna Sabalenka started her attempt to win a third consecutive US Open title with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio.

Sabalenka produced 32 winners and capitalised on a difficult serving day for the Colombian, who committed five double faults in the opening set. The world No. 1 broke in the third game and again for a 5-2 lead before closing out the set.

Osorio offered greater resistance in the second. The players exchanged early breaks before Sabalenka finally broke again in the ninth game. An unreturned serve then completed the victory.

“I’m super happy with the level I played,” Sabalenka said. “I feel like this is one of my favourite stadiums.”

Sabalenka is attempting to join Chris Evert and Serena Williams as the only women in the professional era to win three consecutive US Open singles titles. Evert won four straight from 1975 to 1978, while Williams completed her three-peat between 2012 and 2014.

The two-time defending champion arrived in New York without reaching a final since completing the Indian Wells-Miami double in March. Talking about the season so far, Sabalenka said, “The good thing for me is not looking back no matter what, if it’s good or bad, because I feel a good result can also stop you from performing well because you’re basically focusing on the past. I never look back. If I win the tournament or lose the tournament, today is a new day, and I have to stay in the moment.”

She will play Russia’s Polina Iatcenko in the second round.

Shelton Recovers from One-Sided Opening Set

Ben Shelton endured one of the most uneven starts of the day before finding his range against Tallon Griekspoor.

The eighth seed lost the opening set in only seven games but recovered to win 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 in two hours and 35 minutes.

Griekspoor broke Shelton three times in the first set, using deep returns to prevent the American from controlling rallies with his forehand. The pattern changed rapidly in the second, when Shelton began serving and striking his first ball with greater authority.

“I started off with a little bit of nerves tonight,” Shelton admitted. “I found my rhythm at some point through the second set.”

The third set became the pivotal moment. Shelton remained composed through the tiebreak, winning it 7-3, and carried that momentum through the fourth.

“Obviously, a lot of credit to Tallon,” Shelton said. “He doesn’t give you a lot of rhythm.”

The 2023 semifinalist will next meet Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Tsitsipas Produces the Upset of the Day

Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered his finest Grand Slam performance for some time, recovering from a set and a break down to eliminate 10th seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4.

Fils entered the tournament on a six-match winning streak after capturing the Cincinnati Masters title eight days earlier. He initially looked capable of carrying that form into New York, taking the opening set and moving ahead by a break in the second.

Tsitsipas responded by forcing a tiebreak and then winning it 7-3. From there, the balance of the contest changed dramatically. The Greek produced 50 winners and completed the victory in two hours and 54 minutes.

“I am speechless, I don’t know what to say,” Tsitsipas told the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd. “It’s an amazing start to the tournament.”

Talking about emotions on the court, Tsitsipas was honest. “I feel like we can get dragged with a lot of expectations. Carrying that heavy boat is not easy during a match, especially when the psychological game of a match like that is crucial. It’s important to stay well composed and keep building on your game. I owe everything to letting go, not having any expectations, and just being a warrior, a Greek fighter. All the above.”

The result continued a recent revival for the former world No. 3. Tsitsipas ended a 16-month title drought in Gstaad during July and is now working with a reshaped coaching team after separating from his father, Apostolos, as his principal coach.

Competing unseeded at the US Open for the first time, Tsitsipas will face qualifier Lloyd Harris in the second round.

Swiatek Maintains Her Resurgence

Iga Swiatek continued her improved North American hard-court season with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Wang Xiyu in 88 minutes.

The eighth seed did not face a break point and won 28 of 35 first-serve points, an 80 per cent success rate. She also converted three of nine break opportunities.

Swiatek established a 3-1 lead in the opening set before breaking again to close it out. The second remained tighter until the 2022 champion secured the decisive break in the eighth game.

“For sure, it was a good day in the office,” Swiatek said. “I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity.”

The six-time major champion won her first title of the season in Toronto and then reached the Cincinnati semifinals. That run has given her renewed confidence on a section of the calendar she has not always found comfortable.

“It’s nice to come to a Grand Slam after a couple of good results,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of progress.”

Swiatek will play Nadia Podoroska in the second round.

Birthday Victory for Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova celebrated her 25th birthday with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger.

The 10th seed saved three break points in the early stages before taking complete control of the opening set. The players exchanged breaks at the beginning of the second, but Anisimova pulled away again and completed the victory in one hour and 12 minutes.

“Today was my birthday, so maybe that took a little bit of the stress off,” she said after the crowd serenaded her with “Happy Birthday”.

Last year’s runner-up was satisfied with the standard of an opening-round match that could have been complicated against a familiar opponent.

“Ashlyn was playing some great tennis, so I feel like the quality and the level was pretty high today,” Anisimova said.

“I felt great out there today. I thought I played well.”

She will next face Austrian Lilli Tagger.

Karolina Muchova also made a commanding start, defeating Sinja Kraus 6-3, 6-0. Linda Noskova overcame Katie Volynets 7-5, 6-1, while Emma Navarro survived Lois Boisson 7-6(6), 6-7(1), 6-3.

Wawrinka Says Goodbye to New York

Stan Wawrinka’s final US Open appearance ended with a 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 defeat to Matteo Berrettini, but the result became secondary as the Grandstand crowd celebrated one of the tournament’s most popular former champions.

Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of the season, pushed Berrettini through two close sets before the Italian pulled away in the third.

The Swiss first played at Flushing Meadows in 2005 and finished with a 46-17 record at the tournament. His greatest moment came in 2016, when he defeated Djokovic in four sets to win his third Grand Slam title. He also reached the semifinals in 2013 and 2015.

“It has been 20 years since I first came to New York,” Wawrinka told the crowd. “Over the years, I have received so much support and love.”

The 41-year-old was given a late wildcard, allowing him to complete his farewell appearances at all four majors.

“I’m gonna miss it for sure,” he said. “I’m gonna miss it big time.”

Berrettini will face Navone in the second round.

Australians Mount Four Comebacks

Australia enjoyed a strong day, with Kimberly Birrell, Maya Joint, Alexei Popyrin and James Duckworth all recovering after losing the opening set.

Birrell completed a match carried over from Sunday’s rain delay, defeating Petra Marcinko 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3. It was her first US Open main-draw victory after first-round defeats in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

“It’s a tricky situation to be in for both of us and everyone who was suspended,” Birrell said after returning from a delay of approximately 14 hours.

Joint defeated Liudmila Samsonova 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, while Popyrin recovered to beat qualifier Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Duckworth supplied the seeded upset, defeating No. 30 Matteo Arnaldi 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(8).

Rinky Hijikata pushed third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime before falling 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 19 minutes. Aleksandar Vukic also went the distance but was beaten by Japanese qualifier Rei Sakamoto 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.