Carlos Alcaraz showed his fighting spirit at the US Open on Wednesday, overcoming a first-set defeat against Portugal's Jaime Faria to make it to the third round of the tournament. He came back after a 1-set loss in the first to claim a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory in New York.
The Spaniard needed two hours and 40 minutes to overcome No. 72 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz moved in slowly and steadily and took control of the match, and delivered a dominant response that also included a second-set bagel.
The win kept Alcaraz's title challenge alive and further developed his excellent record at Grand Slam tournaments. Coming back from a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, the Spanish star showed some resilience and concentration after his failure to get a shot in against Faria.
Alcaraz will next face China’s Wu Yibing at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year.
A Difficult Start for Alcaraz.
Faria started the match with little fear against the reigning US Open champion. Alcaraz looked like he might be able to take early control when he got a break point that would have put him up 4-2.
But the Spaniard could not convert the opportunity. Faria held his serve to level the set at 3-3 before gaining momentum and breaking Alcaraz in the following game.
The Portuguese player also used his excellent serve with great precision and he ended up winning the opening set 6-4. Alcaraz suffered only a setback in the first set, so the early failure was a surprise for him at the tournament as he had dominated the tournament in the previous edition.
The champion later said the lack of a break point opportunity affected his approach in the first set.
Alcaraz Explains First-Set Struggles
Alcaraz said after the match that he was feeling comfortable before the missed opportunity changed the momentum.
“Tough match for me. Obviously the first set, I was feeling great, I had break point, I missed it,” Alcaraz said.
He admitted that, once the opportunity was lost, he rushed and lost patience when he was up to his ears.
“After that I was in a rush. I didn’t take time, I wasn’t patient and that obviously cost me a break,” he said.
Alcaraz also praised Faria's ability to serve well, saying the Portuguese player was always producing powerful serves.
“Against someone like Jaime, he's serving 140, 141 mph, it's very difficult,” Alcaraz said, explaining why it is so difficult to regain control so quickly.
But the Spaniard said he tried not to get panicky and to keep calm and focus on the fact that there are going to be better opportunities.
Eight Straight Games Change the Match
Alcaraz had a great response to losing the first set. He quickly raised his level and began dominating rallies, forcing Faria into the defensive.
The turning point came when Alcaraz won eight straight games, completely changing the course of the match. He won the second set 6-0, and Faria had very little chance to recover.
Alcaraz’s dominant second set showed why he is still one of the biggest stars in men’s tennis. His improved movement, aggressive baseline play and ability to control rallies allowed him to neutralise Faria’s powerful serve.
Alcaraz continued his strong form in the third set and won it 6-3. The momentum was now very much with the defending champion.
The fourth set also followed a similar pattern with Alcaraz maintaining control and eventually sealing the match 6-2.
Defending Champion Continues Grand Slam Run
The victory was especially significant because Alcaraz had had such a dominant run in the US Open the previous year. He did not lose a set until the final, against Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz eventually defeated Sinner in four sets to win his second US Open title. His performance made him the first male player since Roger Federer in 2015 to reach the final without dropping a set in his first six matches.
The Spanish star has continued to build on that success. He also won his seventh major title at the Australian Open at the end of the year and moved into the US Open on a 16-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments.
Back like he never left 🤎
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz defeats Safiullin in straight sets! pic.twitter.com/UakEeaeOqj
Next Challenge Awaits
Alcaraz knows that the competition will be tougher as the tournament goes on and his recovery against Faria is good but not enough. His next opponent is Wu Yibing from China who will attempt to stop the Spaniard’s march towards another Grand Slam title.
The first set loss against Faria might also serve as a further reminder for Alcaraz that, even as a defending champion, every match at a Grand Slam presents a new challenge.
His ability to recover from adversity was the most important aspect of the victory. Alcaraz didn’t let the opening set defeat affect his confidence to go on and put three increasingly dominant sets together.
Alcaraz remains one of the leading contenders in the US Open. His comeback victory over Faria showed both his resilience and his ability to raise his level when under pressure.
With Wu Yibing waiting in the third round, Alcaraz will now look to maintain his momentum and continue his title defense in New York.
