US Open: Alcaraz wins on return, aggressive Sabalenka advances

What the report says

Carlos Alcaraz returned to Grand Slam play with a straight-sets win in the first round of the US Open in New York, according to Al Jazeera’s report from Monday, Sept. 1, 2026. The defending men’s champion, who had been sidelined by a wrist injury since April, beat Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz said the comeback had been difficult and described the venue as especially meaningful to him. His advance came as the tournament continued to be shaped by absences and early exits among leading contenders, including Novak Djokovic’s loss the previous day and top-ranked Jannik Sinner’s injury-related absence.

On the women’s side, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also moved into the second round with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio. Al Jazeera reported that Sabalenka played aggressively, producing a large number of winners despite several unforced errors. The result keeps alive her attempt at a rare third straight US Open title, even though her recent form has been uneven.

The report also noted other early-round winners, including Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Ben Shelton. More broadly, these results show several former champions and top seeds settling into the year’s final Grand Slam as the men’s and women’s draws begin to take shape in New York.