2026-09-01 08:22:27

Carlos Alcaraz has confessed that he had some “doubts” as he returned from injury at the US Open.

The Spanish tennis star beat Roman Safiullin in straight sets in his opener at Flushing Meadows on Monday (31.08.26) and admits that he felt a sense of trepidation after not playing for over four months as a result of a wrist problem.

Alcaraz said post-match: “I had some doubts, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been thinking about, ‘I’m going to last a match of best of five. I’m going to last playing four sets, five sets, I don’t know.’ So I had a little bit of doubt, but I tried to forget everything and be focused on the things I had to do, the things that I tried to improve.

“I was thinking, ‘Let’s see what is going to happen in the match.’ I’m just happy that I won in straight sets, another win, and physically I just played really well.”

Alcaraz missed both the French Open and Wimbledon this summer due to the injury but claims that he felt “pain-free” as he returned to action in New York.

The world number three said: “I felt great. I don’t know how it looked from outside, but from inside, my feeling was that I was hitting normal. I was playing pretty normal, playing my style, and the arm, the wrist, everything felt great.

“I’m still going to care of it, obviously, these days and before the matches and everything, but I’m just really happy it’s pain-free finally.”

Alcaraz was delighted to make his return at Arthur Ashe Stadium after twice being crowned US Open champion in the past.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner said: “It’s been a really tough five months for me, so to be able to step into Arthur Ashe and be able to compete again…as I said before the tournament, I couldn’t have decided to come back at a better tournament, here at the US Open, here in New York. It’s a really special place for me, a special tournament for me.

“I tried to enjoy as much as I can. I missed the crowd, the energy. I missed the competition. I missed everything, so I’m just really happy I was able to compete again.”

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