Safiullin to start and thorns to continue: relentless route for Alcaraz in New York

The draw held this Thursday hinted at Carlos Alcaraz’s New York route, who after four and a half months off — due to the wrist injury he suffered in mid-April — returned to the courts on Tuesday and will soon do so in the singles format. He reappeared in the US Open mixed doubles, alongside Serena Williams, and will soon do so solo and with an opponent who threatens like no other: himself. Theory says luck did not accompany him, since the path is dotted with thorns, but beyond who he might face, the world number three warns that the strongest enemy is himself and his readaptation to the circuit.

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The 22-year-old from Murcia will debut against Russian Roman Safiullin, a veteran (98th) whom he could not overcome in the 2023 Bercy encounter, although he did in the subsequent Paris Games event. Afterwards, the potential path would pair him with Jaime Faria and from there with two demanding players like Matteo Arnaldi (34th) and Tommy Paul (21st); then steeper curves would come, with Ben Shelton (9th) or Arthur Fils (11th) on the quarterfinal horizon, and at the next stage he would converge with Serbian Novak Djokovic, provided both, in delicate circumstances, manage to progress that far. From the most optimistic perspective, not very realistic nowadays, in the final he could face Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, or Flavio Cobolli.

Alcaraz returned to competition two days ago, alongside Williams, giving off a more than logical feeling: he lacks rhythm. The question is whether he will be able to progress during the first week of the tournament to acquire it on the go. He has not competed since April 14, when he injured his right wrist at the Godó, and from now until the end of the season he faces (if nothing prevents it) the following official events: US Open, Laver Cup, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bercy, the Masters Cup, and the Davis Cup finals, provided Spain qualifies and he is fit. Considering the delicacy of his injury, sensations will decide.

While waiting to see how the tennis and physical condition of the Murcian react, Spanish tennis also trusts the card of Rafael Jódar, who after a very meritorious tour — the summer climb has placed him near the top-10, at 13th — will debut in Flushing Meadows against Thanasi Kokkinakis (412th) and would then face significant hurdles like Fabian Marozsan (63rd), Casper Ruud (20th), Alex de Miñaur (7th), Zverev (2nd), or Felix Auger-Aliassime (4th). Equally attractive will be following his fellow countryman Dani Mérida, who left a good impression this month — reaching the Canadian quarterfinals, with a rise to 39th in his first year in the elite — and will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics (121st) on the first day.

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From Nole to the Williams

In the Spanish key, Jaume Munar, Pablo Carreño, Martín Landaluce, and Carlos Taberner will also participate, awaiting possible further additions in the qualifying phase these days. Pablo Llamas and Daniel Rincón are just one step away, as is Andrea Lázaro. The latter, like Rincón, aims to play her first Grand Slam. In contrast, Paula Badosa already has a considerable record behind her. The 28-year-old Catalan will arrive at the event without any match practice and after having secured a spot in the main draw at the last minute, with a sprint in July. She will have a tough time: the world number twelve to start, Daria Kasatkina, and a possible clash with the fourth seed in the second round, Coco Gauff.

Joining them are Cristina Bucsa, Jessica Bouzas, Oksana Selekhmetev, and Kaitlin Quevedo. From a panoramic perspective, all eyes will again be on the number one, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, who is going through a sharp results crisis; specifically, the Minsk player began to lose momentum on the clay tour and in the US Open preparatory events has delivered a disappointing performance. Meanwhile, the participation of the rival who could take the number one spot from her, Elena Rybakina, is uncertain due to physical problems she has been carrying since mid-month.

Among the star cast will be Serbian Novak Djokovic, who will travel on the same side as Alcaraz. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, 39 years old, has only played one match before the last major of the year; it was in Cincinnati against Thiago Agustín Tirante. He will debut against Mariano Navone. Another highlight will be the joint performance of the Williams sisters in doubles, after the failed attempt at Wimbledon; there, Serena suffered an injury in the singles match against young Maya Joint. This time, the American will compete exclusively with Venus.

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