Alcaraz Opens US Open vs Safiullin

Carlos Alcaraz vs Roman Safiullin is a first-round match at the 2026 US Open, with main-draw play starting Sunday, Aug. 30, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Alcaraz is the No. 2 seed and the defending champion. ESPN wrote that it will be his first singles match since April, after a right wrist injury forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. Tennis.com lists the meeting on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Round 1, dated Monday, Aug. 31. There is no result yet. Do not invent one.

Safiullin is not a throw-in. ESPN noted he reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, upsetting Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets. He also beat Alcaraz at the Paris Masters in 2023, when Alcaraz was ranked No. 2. Alcaraz got that one back at the Paris Olympics. Two meetings, one apiece. Flushing is the rubber match, and the Spaniard is coming in cold.

When is Alcaraz vs Safiullin at the US Open?

First round. Arthur Ashe Stadium. Tennis.com has it dated Aug. 31. The tournament's first-round window runs Sunday, Aug. 30, through Tuesday, Sept. 1, per Sporting News and the US Open schedule. Main-draw tennis starts Sunday. Alcaraz is the second men's seed after Alexander Zverev moved up to No. 1 when Jannik Sinner withdrew with a knee injury, ESPN wrote. Searchers typing Alcaraz vs Safiullin want the round, the court, and whether it has been played. First round, Ashe, not yet.

Alcaraz already came back once this fortnight. ESPN said he played mixed doubles with Serena Williams and looked rusty. Mixed doubles is not a five-set opener against a man who just took out Rublev at SW19. The wrist cost him clay and grass. Hard courts in New York are the first real test.

Have Alcaraz and Safiullin played before?

Yes. Twice, per ESPN. Safiullin won in Paris in 2023. Alcaraz won at the Olympics a year later. That is the entire head-to-head the desk can source. Safiullin's Wimbledon run is the form sheet while Alcaraz was in a sling. Fourth round, two seeded-level upsets, four sets with Djokovic. He can hang with this ball.

The rest of the men's draw is wide open without Sinner. ESPN mapped the potential quarters as Zverev vs Alex de Minaur, Alcaraz vs No. 8 Ben Shelton, Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Flavio Cobolli, and Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev. None of that is Sunday. Sunday is the first ball. The desk already had Venus Williams vs Sofia Kenin as the American night session on Ashe. Alcaraz is the other Ashe name people will search. Title defense, first singles since April, Safiullin across the net.

Alcaraz vs Safiullin FAQ

When does Carlos Alcaraz play at the US Open? First round against Roman Safiullin. Tennis.com lists it on Arthur Ashe Stadium dated Aug. 31. Main-draw play began Sunday, Aug. 30. No result yet.

Is this Alcaraz's first match since injury? ESPN wrote it is his first singles match since April after a right wrist injury cost him the French Open and Wimbledon. He did play mixed doubles with Serena Williams and looked rusty.

Have Alcaraz and Safiullin played before? Yes. Safiullin beat him at the 2023 Paris Masters. Alcaraz won their other meeting at the Paris Olympics, ESPN wrote.