Alcaraz's wrist, Djokovic's Monday, the draw cracking open
The defending champion is back from four months out. Novak Djokovic lost in round one. New York noticed both.
Why this fortnight matters
A Grand Slam is a draw that pretends it is fair. The 2026 US Open opened with two facts that are not fair at all: Carlos Alcaraz had not played a match in about four months because of a right wrist injury, and Novak Djokovic lost in the first round for only the third time at a major in his career.
What actually happened
Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Monday and said he forgot how match day looks. His body felt great after. Sabalenka opened a bid for a third straight title 6-2, 6-4 against Camila Osorio. Stefanos Tsitsipas upset Cincinnati champion Arthur Fils. Stan Wawrinka’s Grand Slam career ended against Matteo Berrettini.
Djokovic’s Monday is the line that will follow the tournament even if he is gone. Wikipedia logged it as only the third opening-round major loss of his career.
What it changes
By 8 September Alcaraz is in the quarter-finals against Ben Shelton. The American men have a gauntlet. The women’s three-peat is still alive. The champion is not named. That is the honest version of New York today.
Sources
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