All eyes on Alcaraz as defending champ returns from injury at US Open

New York, Aug 31 — Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is set to re-enter the court against Roman Safiullin today, marking his first match since April due to a right wrist injury. The Spanish player, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year, aims to kick-start his US Open campaign by securing a clean sweep.

His opponent, Safiullin, has had a formidable run, defeating both Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca en route to the Wimbledon fourth round. The Spaniard faces a tough challenge from Safiullin, who demonstrated his power on the court by eliminating Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Paris Olympics. Alcaraz, however, asserts that rigorous practice sessions have restored his confidence in his wrist, and he is prepared to give his all.

Apart from Alcaraz's match, Day 2 of the US Open features notable encounters with other top players. Two-time defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on Camila Osorio, with Sabalenka holding a 2-0 head-to-head advantage. The Belarusian has experienced a slump since her consecutive hard court WTA titles at Indian Wells and Miami, even risking the loss of her world No. 1 ranking.

Nonetheless, Sabalenka remains confident, vowing to rebound stronger against Osorio, who previously defeated her at Wimbledon 2021 and Madrid 2023.

Meanwhile, Japan's Naomi Osaka, who has four Grand Slam titles including two US Open wins, anticipates a challenging match against Russian Anastasia Zakharova. Osaka, who is seeking to capitalize on her recent strong performances, is confident in her ability to perform at the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. She has previously overcome tough opponents, such as Sabalenka and Zakharova, and aims to build on her impressive quarter-final run at Wimbledon this year.