Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka began their US Open title defences with straight-sets victories on Arthur Ashe, while Novak Djokovic went out of the tournament, according to the Guardian and Sky Sports.
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Key facts
- Carlos Alcaraz won in straight sets on his return from injury, beating Roman Safiullin, Sky Sports reported.
- Aryna Sabalenka, the defending champion, advanced past Colombia's Osorio, according to the Guardian.
- An ailing Novak Djokovic went out, according to the Guardian.
- British players Jacob Fearnley (the Guardian) and Harriet Dart (Sky Sports) also progressed.
Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka opened their US Open title defences with comfortable victories on Arthur Ashe, according to reporting from the Guardian and Sky Sports. Both defending champions eased through their opening matches at the 2026 tournament.
Alcaraz impressed on his return from injury, recording a straight-sets win over Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the first round, Sky Sports reported.
On the women’s side, Sabalenka advanced past Colombia’s Osorio on the same court, according to the Guardian. The outlet’s live coverage described an early exchange in which Osorio held serve to go 1-0 up after two double-faults, before Sabalenka secured a game with a forehand volley at the net to level at 1-1.
The Guardian’s coverage also noted that an ailing Novak Djokovic went out, and that Williams lost after a match that began after 2am.
British interest was maintained as Jacob Fearnley progressed, according to the Guardian, while Sky Sports reported that Harriet Dart also won.
The coverage formed part of the Guardian’s live blog of day two at the US Open, which tracked the marquee matches on Arthur Ashe alongside results from across the tournament.
Why it matters
Alcaraz and Sabalenka are the defending champions, so their opening wins are early indicators of their form. Djokovic's exit, reported by the Guardian, alters the men's draw and is a talking point for fans following the tournament.
Frequently asked questions
Did Carlos Alcaraz win his first-round match?
Yes. Alcaraz won in straight sets over Russia's Roman Safiullin on his return from injury, according to Sky Sports.
Who did Aryna Sabalenka play in her opening match?
Sabalenka, the defending champion, played Colombia's Camila Osorio on Arthur Ashe and progressed, according to the Guardian.
What happened to Novak Djokovic?
An ailing Novak Djokovic went out of the tournament, according to the Guardian's live coverage.
Timeline
- US Open: Alcaraz wins on return, aggressive Sabalenka advances
Al Jazeera: Defending champions ease to straight set wins in the first round, with Alcaraz making a return after 139 days.
- US Open 2026: Alcaraz wins in straight sets on return while Fearnley and Sabalenka also progress – as it happened
The Guardian Sport: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka began their title defences with comfortable victories on Arthur Ashe Sabalenka eases through on her serve, advancing to the net to secure her first game of the tournament with a forehand volley. It’s 1-1 in the opening set against Osorio. Sabale
- US Open 2026: Alcaraz wins in straight sets on return while Fearnley and Sabalenka also progress – live
The Guardian Sport: Ailing Djokovic goes out | Williams loses after 2am start You can email Taha and follow us on TikTok and Bluesky Sabalenka eases through on her serve, advancing to the net to secure her first game of the tournament with a forehand volley. It’s 1-1 in the opening set against Osori
- Alcaraz impresses on return from injury as Sabalenka also wins
Sky Sports News: Carlos Alcaraz impressed on his return to tennis with a straight-sets win over Russia's Roman Safiullin in the first round of the US Open.
- US Open 2026: Alcaraz wins in straight sets on return while Sabalenka also progresses – live
The Guardian Sport: Ailing Djokovic goes out | Williams loses after 2am start You can email Taha and follow us on TikTok and Bluesky Sabalenka eases through on her serve, advancing to the net to secure her first game of the tournament with a forehand volley. It’s 1-1 in the opening set against Osori