Alcaraz Overcomes Slow Start to Advance at US Open

Carlos Alcaraz Stays Calm to Complete US Open Second-Round Comeback

If you tuned into Arthur Ashe Stadium for Wednesday's night session, you might have held your breath for a second. Playing in his first Grand Slam back after a four-month wrist injury layoff, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz found himself trailing early against world No. 72 Jaime Faria.
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Faria snatched the opening set 6-4, taking advantage of a slightly rushed Alcaraz. But instead of letting the frustration build, the 23-year-old Spaniard reset his mind, stayed relaxed, and completely flipped the script.

What followed was a clear reminder of why Alcaraz remains one of the most dangerous players on tour—even when working his way back to full match fitness.

Flipping the Switch with a Second-Set Bagel
Dropping that first set seemed to serve as a wake-up call rather than a setback. Alcaraz came out for the second set with newfound patience, serving up a brutal 6-0 bagel to reset the momentum.
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Once his forehand started finding the corners and his drop shots began landing, Faria struggled to stay in the rallies. Alcaraz cruised through the remaining sets 6-3, 6-2 to wrap up the victory in two hours and 41 minutes.
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"It was a tough match for me. I felt great in the first set, but I didn't take my time and that cost me," Alcaraz said after the win. "After that, I tried to be focused, stay calm and think that good things would happen."
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No Lingering Injury Doubts
For fans worried about his right wrist—the same injury that kept him out of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this summer—Alcaraz made it clear he isn't playing scared.
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Despite missing major court time over the last few months, this victory marks his 16th consecutive Grand Slam match win. That streak makes him the youngest player since Rafael Nadal in 2008 to hit 16 straight major wins.
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According to Alcaraz, the mental hurdle of returning to best-of-five set tennis is already fading, noting that there is no reason to hold back or protect his arm when he steps onto the court.
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Looking Ahead to Round Three
With top seed Jannik Sinner absent from the tournament due to injury and Novak Djokovic tumbling out in the opening round, the draw has opened up significantly. However, Alcaraz isn't looking too far down the line just yet.
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Next up for the Spaniard is a third-round clash against China's Wu Yibing. If Alcaraz keeps his cool and hits his stride like he did in the final three sets against Faria, he'll be tough to stop as he continues his title defense.
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Do you think Alcaraz has what it takes to go all the way and defend his crown at Flushing Meadows this year? Let me know your thoughts!
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