Carlos Alcaraz lost the first set then something changed in ominous US Open signs

Day four of the 2026 US Open. All eyes are diverted to Arthur Ashe Stadium as Carlos Alcaraz sits at his chair and ponders his next move. A set down against Jaime Faria, a response was needed. Less than two hours later, the pair were shaking hands at the net with a triumphant Alcaraz keeping his title defence alive.

On the face it, there is nothing too special about it. Alcaraz wins another match he was expected to breeze through. Just another step closer to clinching an eighth Grand Slam title and a third at Flushing Meadows.

If you delve in deeper, there is much more to dissect. The defending champion, the pressure to perform after over four months out of the sport. All the speculation and headlines centred around this 23-year-old tennis player from Murcia. Could he deal with the pressure and heat? the answer was a resounding yes, and the way he did it as well showcases what a special talent he is.

The final result was 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 as Alcaraz fended off his Portuguese rival to reach the third round in New York for the fifth time, a 14th consecutive win against players that are younger than him. He dropped less games in the final three sets than he did in the first. Pressure, what pressure. A championship on the line after all the storylines going into the tournament were under immense risk, but instead of collapsing he just produced a shuddering statement of intent to the rest of the competition. Alcaraz is back, and was there any doubt.

Ahead of the tournament, many tennis fans, analysts and pundits noted the poor timing of his comeback. Throwing himself straight into the deep end at the US Open with no warm-up tournament after opting to skip the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open, the best-of-five format seemed to be a stumbling block.

Against Faria, it was a blessing. There is a reason 10 of the 11 Grand Slam titles have gone the way of either Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner. The top players are regularly so tough to topple in these longer format matches, but there is always a buzz and a sense of anticipation when something does not go well.

Alcaraz got back in the groove with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Roman Safiullin in his first match since the first round of the Barcelona Open back in April. It could have been cleaner with the Russian not able to produce his most clinical game when it mattered most.

Faria posed a different threat. An attacking player whose modern style of play was also a versatile one. Comfortable at the back of the court along with coming to the net, the power produced behind such shots as his serve and forehand make him a very tricky customer to face when he gets it right. While still developing, the 23-year-old shares a lot of the similar traits Alcaraz bestows on court, albeit the World No.3 is better at them.

This showcased itself effectively as the first set drew to a close. Alcaraz missed a chance to take a 4-2 lead, and was royally punished as Faria capitalised against the serve with a second break point to move into pole position, He did not drop a single point against the serve for the rest of the set, giving Alcaraz a lot to think about.

This is where the top players really earn their accolades. It is one thing leading from the front, but to battle back and overturn a deficit is not the simplest of tasks. The last time Alcaraz was forced to do this was all the way back at Indian Wells where Arthur Rinderknech took the first set with a tiebreak. Alcaraz forced his way back that time around, and he would complete the same feat five months later.

From a tennis point of view, Alcaraz changed up his tactics. Despite being so young, he already has so much experience in the sport and uses that well and efficiently in moments like this. After the match, Alcaraz explained why he had lost the first set. "I was feeling great, but I was in a rush and I didn't take time and it cost me a break," he commented.

No time to dwell on it however, Alcaraz was already fluttering the ideas around his head on how he would react. For starters, he slowed the pace of his game down. There was no need to rush, opting for a more patient approach that gave him time to reset and go again. A lot more variety was on show which included an abundance of drop shots and some brilliant lobs that got the crowd to stand and applaud.

Another eye-catching thing he did was start to up the ante in terms of power on his groundstrokes. A possible caveat in his title defence would have led back to that injury, the catalyst for all these storylines and comeback talk. So long he had teased a return with videos on social media, every time hitting the ball slightly harder as the wrist continued to develop at a nice pace. However, the big question was whether it was ok for competition. Had Alcaraz rushed back, and would it be costly and even detrimental not just to the tournament, but to his career?

The answer seems to be no. He overpowered Faria as he increased his aggression, matching his opponent while attacking the serve more effectively. 12 break points were created with seven of them being converted throughout the tie. The improvement was seen from the off. Alcaraz bageled his opponent as he won 12 of the next 15 games to lead the tie. Faria did not have much else left on the table, scrambling for any sort of response. Now Alcaraz was in a familiar position, he saw it out effectively with a cut-throat manner that saw him motor swiftly away. In the fourth set, Faria began with a hold before an incredible burst saw Alcaraz win 20 of the next 22 points. He dropped one point on serve in that final set, truly summing up how eye-catching of a performance it was.

There will be a lot of focus on the tennis of Alcaraz who dazzled the Flushing Meadows courts once more. However, tennis is a very lonely sport. When you are out on court, you are all alone which is a daunting feeling to many. That sinking feeling can be one that loads struggle to turnaround, even for the elite.

This could have been swirling around Alcaraz's mind. But he knows better than that. One thing is producing the tennis, but that has to be brewed up from somewhere else.

For starters, Alcaraz accepted that he was in a spot of bother, but the crucial thing was that he did not panic. Going down a set in a best-of-three contest, yeah fair enough maybe alarm bells would be ringing. In a best-of-five format, not for one of the best players in the world. Time was very much on his side. No need to rush and win every point from the off. There were different and more effective ways of doing so.

The word 'rush' is so key in all of this. The occasion may have got to him with an adrenalin boost making him go a million miles per hour. He slowed his mind down, got back to the basics and in turn the opposite thing occurred on court. 33 minutes later, Faria had not won another game and Alcaraz was back on level terms.

He never got worked-up or emotional about his situation. His mind was clear as he sought a new tactical perspective. Without being frantic, he put Faria under pressure. At the same time, this was one of his biggest matches of his career. He had played a blinder in the first set, but the onus was now on him to keep the level up. Inevitably, it did not and Alcaraz knew that from the off. He was certain that he was the best player on court.

Overall, that shows the mentality of a truly elite player. Lose the first set, reset, review where to improve, do not get too emotional or concerned, get back on court, raise the standards, put your opponent under the cosh, relish the rewards.

This US Open has been all about Alcaraz. In the clay swing, fans helplessly watched on as tournament after tournament was withdrawn with the extent of his injury picked up on home soil well and truly sinking in. The US Open was cast into doubt as the brace of Masters 1000 tournaments leading up the fourth and final Grand Slam event were skipped.

Finally Alcaraz gave the 'here we go' and the tennis world went into overdrive. At a similar time, Sinner had confirmed his intentions of not competing due to a right knee injury. Novak Djokovic struggled in Cincinnati, and would collapse against Mariano Navone, and there is still uncertainty about the level of Alexander Zverev. His main rivals all not at their best or even not even present. A huge boost for Alcaraz.

Then comes the pressure. Tennis analysts piping up about how he should not be competing, doubting whether the wrist would hold up, if he even had a chance of winning the tournament. No preparation beforehand, how low would his match sharpness be. Could an early upset be on the cards.

After winning his first Grand Slam in New York all the way back in 2022, Alcaraz has failed to feature in the quarter-finals in just one of the major tournaments he participated in. That was no fluke, but it was also at risk of occurring again some time in the future.

That danger was obvious when Faria took a surprising one-set lead. But Alcaraz won. From a certain point of view, that makes him the huge favourite to win the title. Not just the comeback, but the way he executed it in front of a packed crowd on the biggest tennis court in the world after playing just one match in over fourth months. Alcaraz has stepped back into tennis like a duck to water.

The most important part of Alcaraz's US Open title defence may not be how well he plays when everything is going right. It's what happens when things go wrong. Winning Grand Slams were never meant to be easy. These guys are humans, they will get things badly wrong, make regrettable mistakes and falter on the big stage. Only the absolute best can dig themselves out of a hole with the tools at their expense, and that is what Alcaraz did.

To drop just five games for the rest of the match is incredible. The mental reset translated into a 6-0 second set scoreline. There is no question about the mentality that Alcaraz possesses. There is one thing having the tools to win, but it is another to know how to use them. Yibing Wu on paper seems like a straightforward win, but so did Faria in the round beforehand. Nothing is a given in tennis, but Alcaraz will always have the upper hand.