'Had to play long rallies': Alcaraz fights back from set down to reach US Open third round

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a first-set setback to defeat Portugal's Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 and advance to the third round of the US Open. Alcaraz, playing only his second competitive match after a lengthy injury layoff, initially struggled to find the right rhythm at Arthur Ashe Stadium. After dropping the opening set, however, the Spaniard changed his approach and dominated the remainder of the contest. The two-time US Open champion said impatience had hurt him early in the match as he attempted to finish points too quickly instead of constructing rallies.

Patience pays off

Alcaraz said he realised after the opening set that he needed to extend the rallies and wait for opportunities rather than rushing his attacking shots. “The first set was a little bit about adjustment for me,” Alcaraz said. He explained that he had been trying to play short points before recognising that he needed to be more patient over the first few shots and build rallies before going for winners.

The tactical correction produced an immediate result. Alcaraz raced through the second set 6-0 to level the match before taking control of the third and fourth sets. He said discussions with his team also convinced him to play cross-court more frequently during the opening exchanges of rallies before attempting to attack. Faria's mistakes, including a couple of double faults, helped Alcaraz secure an early break and settle into the contest. The Spaniard said that advantage allowed him to play more calmly as the match progressed.

New York energy

Alcaraz also spoke about his enjoyment of competing under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, saying the energy generated by the New York crowd remained one of the attractions of playing at the US Open. The victory took Alcaraz into the third round, where he will face China's Wu Yibing. Wu booked his place in the round with a straight-sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Australia's James Duckworth.

Alcaraz holds a 1-0 record against Wu, having won their previous meeting in Shanghai in 2024. The Spaniard is seeking to successfully defend the US Open crown he won in 2025. His first Grand Slam triumph also came in New York in 2022. Alcaraz began his title defence with a straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin and has now registered 26 main-draw victories at the US Open, his highest tally at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments.