Carlos Alcaraz has continued his defence of the US Open title after producing an impressive comeback against Portugal’s Jaime Faria on Wednesday.
The Spanish second seed lost the opening set but responded strongly to defeat Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 and book his place in the third round of the tournament.
The victory was another positive sign for Alcaraz, who is competing at the US Open after spending several months away from competitive tennis because of a wrist injury. He had already won his opening-round match against Russia’s Roman Safiullin in straight sets.
Alcaraz did not have the smoothest start against Faria. The Portuguese player played with confidence and took advantage of some early mistakes from the defending champion.
Faria eventually secured the first set 6-4, putting Alcaraz under immediate pressure.
Rather than allowing the setback to affect him, however, Alcaraz changed his approach in the second set. He became more aggressive from the baseline, improved his movement and began putting Faria under constant pressure.
The difference was dramatic.
Alcaraz won the second set 6-0, giving Faria very little opportunity to establish any rhythm. The Spaniard then carried that momentum into the third set, winning it 6-3.
By the fourth set, Alcaraz was firmly in control. He broke Faria’s serve and continued to dictate play with his powerful forehand and quick movement around the court.
He eventually closed out the match 6-2, completing a four-set comeback in two hours and 40 minutes.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz admitted that he struggled with his serve and became impatient during the opening set.
However, he was pleased with the way he adjusted as the match progressed. He said he gradually found better rhythm on his serve and became more comfortable with his movement.
The victory is particularly significant because Alcaraz is still working his way back to full competitive sharpness following his wrist injury.
He missed a large part of the season and was unable to compete at the French Open and Wimbledon. His return at the US Open therefore carries additional importance as he attempts to regain his best form.
Despite the difficult opening set against Faria, Alcaraz showed the resilience that has helped him become one of the leading players in men’s tennis.
The 23-year-old is currently ranked world No. 3 and has already won major titles during his career. He also entered the tournament as the defending US Open champion.
His next opponent will be China’s Wu Yibing in the third round.
Alcaraz will have to maintain his concentration against Wu as the level of competition increases.
The Spaniard has also been speaking about the physical demands of professional tennis. After his latest victory, he warned that the increasingly crowded tennis calendar is contributing to fatigue and injuries among players.
Alcaraz said he intends to take longer breaks from competition in the future rather than continue playing almost every major tournament.
He pointed to the growing number of injuries among leading players and said the sport needs to consider how the calendar affects players’ health.
His comments add another layer to his US Open campaign. While he is focused on defending his title, he is also trying to manage his body carefully after suffering a wrist injury earlier in the year.
For now, though, his immediate target is clear: continue winning and progress as far as possible in New York.
Alcaraz’s comeback against Faria showed that he can recover from difficult moments and adapt during a match. Losing the first set could have created serious problems, but he responded by winning the next three sets comfortably.
The defending champion will now prepare for his third-round meeting with Wu Yibing as he continues his attempt to retain the US Open crown.
With his confidence growing with every match, Alcaraz will hope his return to Grand Slam competition can end with another deep run in New York.
