US Open: Carlos Alcaraz Returns and Wins: “A Tough Day, but My Wrist Is Fine”

Carlos Alcaraz has returned to competitive play after nearly five months away. The Spaniard had not taken the court since early April, when he suffered a wrist injury during the second round of the Barcelona tournament against Virtanen that forced him to stop playing. In his debut in New York, the Spaniard defeated Safiullin in three sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-4), receiving particularly positive feedback regarding his physical condition. After the match, Alcaraz described how he felt before and during the match, reflecting on his long break from competition.

“My wrist doesn’t hurt now, and I felt great throughout the match. I don’t know how it looked from the outside, but I felt like I was able to hit the ball normally. I was able to play my game and didn’t feel any problems in my arm or wrist. When you return to playing an official match, especially in the first round, it’s normal to want to win.”

“After nearly four and a half months without competition, however, it’s hard to know in advance what might happen. You don’t know how your body and mind will respond once you’re back in a real match situation.
That’s why I tried to focus on one game at a time, trying to find good feelings and enjoy the rallies. I also felt the support of the crowd, and I hope the people in the stands had a good time.”

“It was a complicated day, but at the same time a positive one. From the morning on, I was much more nervous than usual and kept asking myself if I’d really be able to get back to competing. The tension was greater than what I normally feel before a match, but I also really wanted to play. My goal here is to get back into competition, have fun, and above all, see how my body responds after the matches.”

“I don’t know what my path through the tournament will be. Before stepping onto the court, I didn’t know if I’d be eliminated right away, if I’d make it past the first round, or if I’d be able to reach the final. It’s still too early to tell how far I’ll be able to go.”

“What I want is to make the most of every moment on the court, rediscover the thrill of competition, and feel the crowd’s support. I also missed the routine of waking up knowing I had a match to play.
I’ll think about the results later. I came here primarily with the goal of getting back to playing and enjoying these feelings, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do since the very first match.”