Andy Roddick tries to taunt Jannik Sinner: “I have no doubts—I’m 100% sure.”

One hundred thirty-nine days away from singles play, more than four months without an official match. Carlos Alcaraz, however, returned to the court as if no time had passed. His US Open debut against Roman Safiullin immediately showed a player ready to reclaim the spotlight. Three sets, three 6-4 victories, and one certainty: the Spaniard’s tennis is still there. It was a performance that even impressed Andy Roddick. The former world No. 1, speaking on his podcast, highlighted the ease with which Alcaraz managed to regain his rhythm, confidence, and quality after such a long break.

“I can’t imagine a better comeback than the one Carlos had today,” Roddick commented, noting that the Spaniard didn’t even need to push himself to the limit to make a difference. The very way the victory came about is the most significant aspect. The American highlighted the speed of his forehand—which appeared faster than what he showed last season—the quality of his footwork, and his ability to manage and close out sets at decisive moments.

“The game is there. The errors will decrease, and he can only improve as he plays more matches,” was Roddick’s summary of his analysis. However, one variable remains impossible to ignore: his physical endurance. Alcaraz has just returned after a long layoff, and he’s dealing with a wrist injury that calls for caution. The coming days, in particular, will provide a clearer picture of his condition: “We don’t know how he’ll feel tomorrow. We don’t know if his wrist will be sore. That’s the unknown,” Roddick explained. From a purely tennis perspective, however, the former American champion has no doubts: “Sticking to tennis, he’s exceeded expectations.”

This is also the basis for the former world No. 1’s prediction regarding the rest of the U.S. Open. With the tournament already missing some of its most anticipated names, Alcaraz inevitably returns to the center of the title race: “At this point, he has to return to the pole position,” Roddick declared. And when asked who he would choose if he had to bet on just one player, the answer was even more definitive: “No, at this point I’d pick Carlos. 100 percent.”