US Open day two - listen to live commentary on BBC 5 Sports Extra (UK only)
GB's lucky loser Jacob Fearnley produces superb comeback to beat Martin Landaluce 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz wins 6-4 6-4 6-4 against Roman Safiullin in first singles match for over four months
Defending champion Alcaraz had not played singles since April after injuring his wrist
British qualifier Harriet Dart beats Peyton Stearns 3-6 6-3 6-2 for first Grand Slam win in over a year
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka battles to 6-2 6-4 win over Camila Osorio in first round of title defence
Alcaraz 6-4 0-2 Safiullin*
There's trouble here though for Carlos Alcaraz!
Roman Safiullin is helped on his way to a 0-40 lead and three break points by an Alcaraz double fault.
A final miss from the Spaniard settles it. Alcaraz is immediately put on the back foot in the second set.
*Alcaraz 6-4 0-1 Safiullin
Roman Safiullin certainly made Carlos Alcaraz work for that first set, but couldn't take his break point opportunities.
Instead, Alcaraz improved as the set wore on, and, given how long he has been out for, he has not taken long at all to begin entertaining his audience again.
Safiullin hasn't done a whole lot wrong, and begins the second set with a smooth opening hold of serve.
Alcaraz 6-4 0-0 Safiullin*
A look towards his team. A puff of the cheeks. An accurate first serve. A stunning drop shot winner, and a cheeky grin.
Carlos Alcaraz delighted the crowd with that point, which brought up set point number three.
No mistakes this time. The defending champion is up and running on his return to singles competition as he hits the front.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 5-4 Safiullin
Roman Safiullin continues to battle away, and he stays solid at the baseline to withstand set point number two.
The Russian makes a volley on the stretch at the net for game point - and does what he must to remain in contention.
Alcaraz 5-3 Safiullin*
Well saved!
Roman Safiullin takes charge of the point and blasts in a final winner to stay alive in the set.
But another miss gives Alcaraz another opportunity.
Alcaraz 5-3 Safiullin*
Now, Carlos Alcaraz is beginning to really assert himself on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Spaniard reaches deuce and then watches Roman Safiullin go long as he closes in on a quick end to this opening set.
Set point.
Alcaraz 5-3 Safiullin*
Seeking to consolidate his breakthrough, Carlos Alcaraz is chased to deuce by Roman Safiullin, who continues to have plenty of opportunities on the defending champion's serve.
But it continues to be Alcaraz who dictates the important points in this contest, and the Spaniard holds to move a game away from the first set.
*Alcaraz 4-3 Safiullin
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live
My guess is that the wrist is not affecting Alcaraz's forehand.
The way he thumped a handful of those in that game. He kept peppering away at Safiullin's forehand looking to get a mis-hit or an error - and he did.
Alcaraz hits a flat-out cross-court winner and Safiullin didn't even move.
*Alcaraz 4-3 Safiullin
Carlos Alcaraz goes for a big finish but crashes a backhand into the net on his first break point.
He doesn't make any mistakes with the second, though!
A booming cross-court forehand clinches the breakthrough for the defending champion on his singles return.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 3-3 Safiullin*
Carlos Alcaraz has faced two break points without getting one of his own after six games, but nudges out to 0-30 here.
Roman Safiullin initially avoids a break point with a huge first serve, but completely misjudges a forehand.
After showing great resilience to stay level in this set, Alcaraz has two break points.
Alcaraz 3-3 Safiullin*
Carlos Alcaraz digs in once again to move from break point to game point. He lets out a big cheer and wears a huge grin as he does so.
The Spaniard then pops away a forehand to get over the line, before swivelling towards his team and punching the air in celebration.
*Alcaraz 2-3 Safiullin
Roman Safiullin offers an apology to Carlos Alcaraz after he frames a shot over and the Spaniard can't dig out a reply.
It gives Safiullin 15-30 and, after a delightful drop shot from Alcaraz, the former world number one misses to hand over another break point.
*Alcaraz 2-3 Safiullin
Roman Safiullin outlasts Carlos Alcaraz in a baseline exchange to tick off another service game.
It is certainly the Russian who is looking the more comfortable on serve so far, but can he make that count?
Alcaraz 2-2 Safiullin*
More pressure for Carlos Alcaraz to deal with as Roman Safiullin slices in for deuce.
The defending champion is being made to work hard in these early exchanges, but a big forehand into the back corner proves too powerful for Safiullin as the Spaniard wriggles free again.
*Alcaraz 1-2 Safiullin
Pat Cash
Former Wimbledon champion on BBC Radio 5 Live
On Carlos Alcaraz's wrist injury...
I don't think he'd come back onto the court if he wasn't ready. He's hit a lot of balls and we talked to his coach in Italy who said he's ready and it's just about matches and getting practice.
It will be a challenge and I'm very curious to see how it goes. Wrist injuries are very common these days with how the players are using their rackets.
Image source, Getty Images*Alcaraz 1-2 Safiullin
A comfortable hold of serve for Roman Safiullin, much on contrast to Carlos Alcaraz's previous game.
We should probably expect the Spaniard to take a bit of time to get up to speed, really. But we all know what he is capable of when he does.
Dart 3-6 6-3 6-2 Stearns
Dan Kiernan
Grand Slam doubles coach on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
Dart is a testament to that player who shows up day-in and day-out.
I often find that was a challenging position to be because if Peyton Stearns plays at an eight out of 10 there, then Dart probably loses that match but she was there, cashed in on the errors that Stearns made and a well-deserved second round here for Harriet.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlcaraz 1-1 Safiullin*
A big chance for Roman Safiullin there as he forces a break point but fails to take the opportunity despite appearing to have set himself up nicely.
Relief for Carlos Alcaraz as he escapes to get up and running. That will feel very good indeed.
*Alcaraz 0-1 Safiullin
Image source, Getty ImagesAn injury sustained at last year’s US Open curtailed Roman Safiullin’s season and saw the former world number 36 tumble out of the top-150.
After spending much of this season on the Challenger circuit, including titles in Portugal and Austria, he returned to his best at Wimbledon, embarking on an emotional run to the last 16.
Coming through qualifying, he beat seeds Andrey Rublev and Joao Fonseca to reach the second week of a Slam for the second time, remarking after the latter win that he “didn’t know whether I would be able to [come] back” from his “super tough” injury layoff.
The 29-year-old is now back up to 99th in the world rankings and, like Alcaraz, he is yet to lose in the first round in New York, winning each of his three matches.
*Alcaraz 0-1 Safiullin
Arthur Ashe Stadium is yet to refill after Aryna Sabalenka's opening win a short while ago, but the fans will soon rush back in now Carlos Alcaraz has turned up.
There's an early opportunity for the Spaniard at 15-30, but some excellent serving from Roman Safiullin takes him to safety in the opening game.
