Just In: Carlos Alcaraz’s route to US Open glory just got a lot easier after dodging trap door
In a US Open that has already been full of chaos and uncertainty, Carlos Alcaraz could be the calm amid the storm. The men’s draw is as wide open as it’s been in years. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner did not even come to Flushing Meadows, while there were questions surrounding Novak Djokovic’s form after he lost his opening match in Cincinnati earlier this month.
Those questions were valid, given that the No. 4 seed lost to Mariano Navone in five sets on Sunday night – his first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years – and looked a shell of himself, throwing up on court and crying. Another title contender has already fallen in the 10th seed and Cincinnati Open champion Arthur Fils.
Alexander Zverev, the No. 1 seed in Sinner’s absence, claimed his first Major title earlier this year but has won just two matches on the North American hard courts this summer.
And then there is Alcaraz, who has jumped headfirst into the deep end by returning at a Grand Slam, where matches are played over five sets – a big ask after spending so long on the sidelines.
Wrist injuries in tennis are a nightmare. Just look at former US Open champions Dominic Thiem and Juan Martin del Potro. So there were plenty of concerns about how the Spaniard’s wrist would hold up when he ultimately returned to competition, especially given the demands of a Major
And it looked as though Alcaraz was going to be robbed of the opportunity to play himself into form when the draw came out, and he found himself up against tricky Russian ace Roman Safiullin. The world No. 99 beat the Spaniard a few years ago at the Paris Masters and is no stranger to an upset. He takes time and rhythm away from his opponents – everything the seven-time Major champion needed upon his return.
But after spending just over two hours on court, the No. 2 seed has tamed any fears, and it feels like he’s never been gone. Alcaraz secured the best thing possible on his return: a routine, straight-set victory. 6-4 6-4 6-4. No fuss, no fear. And that’s arguably even more impressive against Safiullin.
The former world No. 36 stunned Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca at Wimbledon last month and took a set off Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz struggles against those types of unorthodox, unpredictable players. Some of his losses to Cameron Norrie are also proof of that. The fact that he has avoided one of his bogey players, a banana skin lurking in round one, having spent four-and-a-half months out of competition, is a sure sign that he is capable of defending his title.
Alcaraz ripped a 108mph forehand in the first set, proof that the wrist is no longer a factor. He came back from an early break down in the second, and landed 69 per cent of first serves. “I think the unknown today with the forehand and serve was going to be the big talking point, and he’s kind of put that to rest in my mind,” Laura Robson said on Sky Sports.
If Safiullin didn’t bother him, it doesn’t look like there are many other players who can disrupt his rhythm. And in that case, the world No. 3 can gain enough form as the fortnight goes on, to end up with the trophy.
And there’s an added bonus for the Spanish star already. If he wants to defend his title, Alcaraz won’t have to go through Sinner and Djokovic. Fils was also in his section of the draw. The highest-ranked opponents he can face before the final are either No. 7 seed Daniil Medvedev or eighth seed Ben Shelton. While everyone is busy speaking about the opportunities in this draw, don’t be surprised if last year’s champion works his way through and comes back on a high
