Home / Sports / Defending Champ Alcaraz Faces Safiullin in US Open Opener
Defending Champ Alcaraz Faces Safiullin in US Open Opener
31 Aug
Summary
- Alcaraz begins US Open title defense on Monday against Roman Safiullin.
- He returns after a four-month absence due to a wrist injury.
- Alcaraz is heavily favored to win his first-round match.
Carlos Alcaraz is set to begin his US Open title defense on Monday, August 31st, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. His first-round opponent will be Roman Safiullin, with the match scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. This marks Alcaraz's return to Grand Slam singles competition after a significant break. He has been sidelined for over four months due to a wrist injury, forcing him to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon tournaments. The defending champion is considered the strong favorite entering this match. BetMGM has listed Alcaraz at -525 on the moneyline, while Safiullin is at +360, indicating expectations for Alcaraz to advance. The 2026 US Open tournament commenced on August 30th and is slated to conclude on September 13th.
