Alcaraz defends US Open title on four months' rest after wrist injury layoff

Defending champion and No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz faces Roman Safiullin in the US Open first round — his first singles match since injuring his right wrist at April's Barcelona Open. The 23-year-old, who completed a career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open, missed the French Open and Wimbledon. He resumed hitting just four weeks ago. Alcaraz says winning "is possible."