Alcaraz wins US Open opener after injury layoff as Korpatsch and Hanfmann exit

Alcaraz makes winning return in New York

Carlos Alcaraz returned to competition following a wrist injury that kept him off the court for more than four months. The 23-year-old Spaniard, a seven-time Grand Slam tournament winner and two-time US Open champion, defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in his opening match in New York. Alcaraz dropped his serve only once during the contest in Arthur Ashe Stadium, with American rapper Travis Scott watching from his player box. The defending champion enters the event alongside Alexander Zverev as one of the leading contenders, with Italian competitor Jannik Sinner absent due to injury. In the second round, Alcaraz is scheduled to face Portugal's Jaime Faria.

Following the match, Alcaraz described his return during the on-court interview.

It was a very difficult five months for me. I could not have chosen a better tournament to play again. I do not want to lie, there were some doubts before the match. I tried to forget everything. I am very happy to win in straight sets.

Korpatsch falls to Tagger after second-set rally

German number one Tamara Korpatsch was eliminated in her opening match on Court 13, losing 0-6, 6-7 (4-7) to 18-year-old Austrian qualifier Lilli Tagger. Korpatsch, ranked 48th in the world after winning her second WTA title in Hamburg a month earlier, conceded her opening serve with a double fault and struggled with unforced errors. Tagger closed out the first set in 33 minutes before building a 4-0, 40-15 lead in the second set. Korpatsch gesticulated toward national coach Torben Beltz in the stands, recovered to win five games in a row, and held two set points before Tagger took the tiebreak. The result marks Korpatsch's third career loss against Tagger, who recently won her first WTA title in Prague and reached the second round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

Hanfmann eliminated by seeded Tabilo

Yannick Hanfmann became the second German player to exit the tournament on day one, losing to 25th-seeded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (9-7), 3-6. Tabilo controlled the opening two sets before Hanfmann rallied from behind to claim the third set in a tiebreak. The defeat leaves the 34-year-old Hanfmann without a main-draw victory at the US Open across four career attempts. Three other German Davis Cup players, Alexander Zverev, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Daniel Altmaier, are scheduled to contest their first-round matches on Tuesday.

Sabalenka advances as Wawrinka says farewell

Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka began her tournament with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio. The 28-year-old from Belarus is targeting her third consecutive US Open title after experiencing inconsistent results earlier in the season. Former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka concluded his tournament run with a first-round exit at age 41. The Swiss player spoke with tears in his eyes following the match, expressing how deeply he would miss competing at Flushing Meadows.