The most difficult test for Alcaraz, today after a long wait of 139 days
After the aperitif of the experience with the American Serena Williams in the mixed doubles, the previous week, and 139 days after his victory over the Finn Otto Virtanen in the Godó he plays an individual match again Carlos Alcaraztoday Monday, around 7 pm Spanish peninsular time.
It was in Barcelona when he noticed the symptoms of what would be a delicate wrist injury, a tenosynovitis that left him without Godó himself, Madrid, Rome, Roland Garros, Queen’s, Wimbledon, Montreal and Cincinnati. After the uncertainty of when he would play again, the concern of how he will feel at the Billie Jean King USTA headquarters, where he lifted the trophy twice, in 2022 and 2026.
The current champion of the tournament finalized his appearance this Sunday training with the Swiss Stan Wawrinkaanother man who appears in the honors of an event from which he says goodbye thanks to an invitation granted on the rebound at the last minute.
Alcaraz has rehearsed with Dani Mérida, Ben Shelton or Arthur Fils, with tennis players who have been very strong in recent weeks, but there is no possible way to simulate the competition, the sensations and the rhythm that can only be experienced (or suffered) in an official match.
Carlos Alcaraz, 23 years old and world No. 3, will have a serious test against the tough Russian Roman Safiullin, 29 years old and world number 99, although he would be number 36 in 2024. It is not a ‘bargain’ for the winner of seven Grand Slams, but at the same time it ensures valuable filming for the Murcian. His opponent has shone brighter at Wimbledon, with the quarterfinals in 2023 and the round of 16 in 2026, than at the US Open, with a distribution of wins and losses: 3-3.
The balance between Alcaraz and Safiullin It’s tied, 1-1. The Russian won the indoor hard court in Paris, round of 32, 6-3, 6-4. The Spaniard was overwhelmed on the clay at Roland Garros, in the second round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games6-4 and 6-2.
Alcaraz will try to attest once again that he is an athlete who regains competitiveness very soon. He has never lost in a Grand Slam first round, he is 20-0. He has won his last fourteen matches in this category, since he joined the US Open and Australian Open, where he became the youngest to complete the four ‘greats’ in his record. Without any preparatory tournament.
Alcaraz has already gained the ability to play in New York. The priority, he said, is to finish healthy, not just because of the wrist but because of the effort of the five sets. There are no emergencies, but he never lacked ambition. He is competitive by nature, he has a lot of class. With him everything is possible. The trap lies in the first three qualifying rounds. If it acquires the tone, it will be very dangerous in the second week. And his rivals know it, they will be very attentive to his duel with Safiullin.
