How was Carlos Alcaraz going to fare after being sidelined for 139 days with a wrist harm? That was a really actual query heading into the U.S. Open.
One match shouldn’t be going fully put that query to mattress, however Alcaraz’s first time on the singles court docket since Barcelona in April was a smashing success. The 23-year-old Spaniard cruised previous Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 22 minutes.
“You don’t know what’s going to occur within the match after 4 months and a half nearly,” Alcaraz admitted afterward. “You don’t know what’s going to occur in your physique, in your thoughts, every thing. It’s completely totally different. “I simply tried to play one recreation at a time and tried to really feel good, to take pleasure in enjoying factors, feeling the love from the folks. Hopefully they loved it. Yeah, after the match my physique felt nice. I’m simply actually, actually completely happy that I made it (again) lastly.
“I don’t know the way far I’m gonna go within the match. I didn’t know if I used to be going to lose this one, if I’m going to make the second spherical, ultimate. I don’t know the way far I’m going to go.”
Of the highest title favorites going into the match, Alcaraz was arguably among the many almost certainly to not go far — merely due to his bodily uncertainty. As a substitute, it was the two-time U.S. Open champion who regarded convincing whereas different contenders faltered. Arthur Fils, for instance, misplaced to Stefanos Tsitsipas. People Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe survived, however not earlier than some hiccups. Shelton misplaced his opening set 6-1 to Tallon Griekspoor earlier than profitable in 4; Tiafoe trailed compatriot Martin Damm two units to at least one however ended up getting the job achieved in 5.
Alcaraz and Shelton stay on a collision course for the quarterfinals at Flushing Meadows.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
