Alcaraz admits serve issues in US Open win

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in his first singles match in over four months at the US Open. The defending champion, who last played at the Barcelona Open in April before a right wrist injury forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, acknowledged specific struggles in his game despite the straight-sets victory.

Alcaraz faced six break points during the match, finding himself a break down in the second set. He won only 66% of points on his first serve and committed five double faults.

Serve identified as primary weakness

In his post-match press conference, Alcaraz pinpointed his serve as the shot causing him the most difficulty. "The serve is probably the shot that I was struggling the most with," Alcaraz said. He explained that his serving speed was partly a tactical decision based on his opponent's preferences, noting some players struggle when the serve is slower than they expect. He conceded, "it's a shot that I always struggle with, I guess. But it will be back for sure."

Alcaraz stated his intention to improve his serve for subsequent matches. He faces Jaime Faria in the second round on Wednesday, September 2, and fans can track his progress in the tournament fixtures.

Perfect first-round record continues

Despite the serve issues, the win extended a remarkable personal streak for the Spaniard. Alcaraz has now won all 21 of his first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments throughout his career. This perfect record places him in exclusive company. Only his compatriot Rafael Nadal has achieved a similar feat, having won his first 34 Grand Slam opening matches before the streak ended at Wimbledon in 2013 with a loss to Steve Darcis.

Distinction from other modern greats

The achievement distinguishes Alcaraz from other modern greats. Players like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner, whose own stats show varied success, have all suffered at least one first-round defeat at a major during their careers.

Alcaraz now shifts his focus to the next challenge in New York, aiming to build rhythm and refine his game as the tournament progresses.