Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes First-Set Loss to Advance at US Open

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from an early set deficit to defeat Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday night, securing a spot in the third round of the US Open. The second-seeded Spaniard responded to losing the opening set by winning eight consecutive games to regain control of the match.

Recovery After Early Setback

Faria, who is three months younger than Alcaraz, broke serve to take a 4-3 lead in the first set and used a strong serve to close it out. Alcaraz noted after the match that he had rushed his strategy following the serve break, saying he tried to “play short points, which was a mistake for me” instead of relying on longer rallies.

After dropping the first set, Alcaraz yielded only five games through the rest of the contest. The match marked the second time in two rounds that Alcaraz was broken twice in a single match, bringing his tournament total to three service breaks. During his 2025 championship run at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz lost serve only three times across 101 service games.

Physical Condition and Winning Streak

The four-set match provided an extended physical test for Alcaraz, who recently returned to action after missing four months with a right wrist injury. The layoff forced him to skip both the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this season. Alcaraz stated after the victory that his body felt good during the match and that he was playing without physical restriction or pain on his forehand, adding, “There is no reason to be afraid and not hitting normal.”

The victory extended Alcaraz’s Grand Slam winning streak to 16 matches, marking the longest streak of his career. The 23-year-old has won 29 of his past 30 major matches, with his only defeat in that stretch coming against Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon final. Alcaraz earned his seventh Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open.

Competitor Perspective

Fellow players acknowledged Alcaraz’s status as a major contender despite his recent absence from the tour. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, noted that while Alcaraz’s physical response over two weeks remains to be seen, “he’s definitely a top favorite for the title” whenever he enters a tournament.

Background

Carlos Alcaraz won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2022 at age 19. He claimed his second US Open title in 2025 by defeating Jannik Sinner in four sets in the final, having reached that match without dropping a single set.