National Sports

Sabalenka, Alcaraz fare better than Djokovic at US Open

NEW YORK -- Carlos Alcaraz returned to the U.S. Open and looked healthy enough for a run at a repeat.

Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday, showing no problems with the right wrist injury that had sidelined the 23-year-old Spaniard since April.

Following fellow two-time U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka onto Arthur Ashe Stadium, the No. 2-seeded Alcaraz appeared more comfortable as the match went on and delivered the all-around game that has made him a fan favorite in New York. He held his hand to his ear to encourage louder cheers and pumped his fist after a pretty volley winner in the final game of the match.

“I’m just really happy that I was able to compete again,” Alcaraz said. “I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure. I’m just really happy with the level that I played my first match.”

If the seven-time Grand Slam champion stays healthy, he may quickly become a huge favorite with top-ranked Jannik Sinner sidelined by a knee injury and No. 4 Novak Djokovic losing in the U.S. Open’s first round for the first time on Sunday.

With the tournament thrown into shock by that result -- Djokovic had been 19-0 in the first round at Flushing Meadows, where he won four of his men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles -- Sabalenka brought back some normalcy.

Sabalenka beat Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-4 to begin her bid to be the first player to win three straight U.S. Open championships since Serena Williams from 2012-14.

She has been to the last three U.S. Open finals, rebounding from a loss to Coco Gauff in 2023 by winning in 2024 and then topping Amanda Anisimova last year to repeat.

“I feel like this is one of my favorite stadiums,” Sabalenka told the crowd afterward. “I really experienced the best emotions here in this stadium.”

She must have certainly been happier with the level of tennis she delivered Monday, after a series of poor events coming into the U.S. Open. She was knocked out in the fourth round in both Toronto and Cincinnati, after being ousted at the same point at Wimbledon.

Djokovic out

Novak Djokovic waved goodbye, made a heart shape with his hands and blew kisses to the crowd as he walked off the court inside Arthur Ashe Stadium to a standing ovation.

Among those applauding in return were Djokovic’s 11-year-old son Stefan, while his 8-year-old daughter Tara covered her eyes and loaded her floppy-eared stuffed animal into a bag that went around her shoulder.

After his first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the U.S. Open on Sunday night, it remains to be seen whether the 39-year-old Djokovic will ever bring those bags out on a court again for a professional match.

The 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 loss marked Djokovic’s earliest Grand Slam exit in two decades -- dating back to the 2006 Australian Open -- and the first time ever that he lost his opener at the U.S. Open.

The holder of a men’s record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic has now gone three straight years without winning a major.

Djokovic’s issues against Navone began midway through the first set when he appeared to be struggling with the heat and humidity. Djokovic led early on in the first set but Navone got back on serve before the match was briefly halted for the roof to be closed because of light rain.