Carlos Alcaraz marked his long-awaited return to action with a straight-sets win over Roman Safiullin at the US Open.

Alcaraz has spent the last four months sidelined due to a wrist injury.

But the reigning US Open champion got his title defence at Flushing Meadows going with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat of Safiullin.

Alcaraz, who played with strapping on his right arm on Arthur Ashe Stadium, wrapped up the win in two hours and 22 minutes.

"[I had] some doubts [about] the match, I'm not going to lie," Alcaraz said.

"I've been thinking about if I'm going to last a match of best of five. I don't know. So I had a little bit of doubt, but I tried to forget everything and be focused on the things I had to do, the things that I tried to improve.

"I was thinking, 'Let's see what is going to happen in the match'. I'm just happy that I won in straight sets, another win, and physically I just played really well."

15 - Carlos Alcaraz (23 years 117 days at tournament start) is the youngest player to claim 15 consecutive Grand Slam match wins on hard court since Pete Sampras (23 years 17 days) in 1994. Streak. #USOpen | @usopen @atptour pic.twitter.com/K7mIPYhDAp

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) August 31, 2026

Earlier, Cincinnati Open champion Arthur Fils lost 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-4.

'Proud' Alcaraz makes it 15 on the spin

Alcaraz (23 years 117 days as of the start of the tournament) is the youngest player to claim 15 consecutive grand slam match wins on hard court since Pete Sampras (23 years 17 days) in 1994.

The Spaniard has claimed 25 wins at the US Open from 28 matches. Only Arthur Ashe (28) and John McEnroe (27) have claimed as many wins at this event from as many or fewer matches in the Open Era.

"I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure. I’m really happy with the level that I played in my first match, my first official match in four months so I think I played really good tennis and I'm really proud of it," he said.

"But I need more matches under the belt to get into the rhythm of the tournament and the matches so I’m pretty sure I’m going to get better and better every day.

"I'm most proud of mentally, of being able to deal with everything and with the nerves in my head. I just kept it going and I'm really proud of it."