“It’s surprising”: Carlos Alcaraz admits Djokovic’s first-round US Open defeat caught him off guard

Tuesday, 01 September 2026 at 08:30

Carlos Alcaraz admitted Novak Djokovic’s first-round US Open exit came as a genuine surprise, but the defending champion had little interest in looking too far ahead after making his own successful return to Grand Slam singles. Four months after suffering a wrist injury, Alcaraz opened his title defence with a convincing straight-sets victory over Roman Safiullin.

The No. 3 seed defeated the Russian 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, producing 28 winners and looking increasingly comfortable as the match progressed. It was his first competitive singles match in 139 days after missing the majority of the summer.

That made the physical side of his comeback particularly important. Alcaraz had already played mixed doubles alongside Serena Williams the previous week, but the demands of a best-of-five Grand Slam match were an entirely different test.

And while Djokovic’s unexpected defeat changed the landscape of his section, Alcaraz was more focused on what the result meant for the tournament as a whole — and on getting himself back into the rhythm of major tennis.

Alcaraz reacts to Djokovic's shock exit

Djokovic’s defeat was impossible to ignore. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had never previously lost in the opening round of the US Open, making his defeat one of the biggest shocks of the tournament so far.

Alcaraz watched the fifth set and admitted that even he had been caught off guard by the result. “I saw the fifth set. And well, obviously it was the first time that Novak losing the first round here in this tournament. So it’s a big surprise, to be honest,” Alcaraz said at press conference.

carlos alcaraz and novak djokovic wimbledon match

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon

The Spaniard, however, immediately added some perspective. Djokovic’s elimination may have removed one of the biggest names from his side of the draw, but Alcaraz does not believe that makes the remaining route any simpler.

“Someone like Novak going out in the tournament in the first round, it’s surprising,” he continued. “But, you know, here it’s, you know, every Grand Slam is really difficult to get through every round.”

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That was the key point for Alcaraz. The opening round had already demonstrated that reputation and ranking mean very little once a player steps onto court in New York. “Every player, you know, it’s really tough. You have to earn, you know, the win since the first ball until the last one.”

And despite Djokovic being positioned in the same half of the draw, Alcaraz is refusing to think about a potential meeting that is still several rounds away. “You say it was in my part of the draw, but, you know, he was in the semi. So for me, the semi is too far away,” he added.. “So I just try to be on my run.”

Five-set tennis presents the next challenge

Alcaraz’s own first-round victory was significant for a different reason. After spending so long away from singles competition, he had to rediscover the physical and mental rhythm required to play a Grand Slam match.

The Spaniard admitted that returning to best-of-five tennis brings a degree of uncertainty, particularly after the body has spent months away from that level of competition.

“The body gets used to not playing five sets,” Alcaraz explained. “When you get back to that rhythm of competition, a Grand Slam, well, physically you think if you’re going to hold on or not.”

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Against Safiullin, those concerns never became an issue. Alcaraz moved well, changed the rhythm with drop shots and occasional serve-and-volley plays, and repeatedly used his forehand to take control of longer exchanges.

More importantly, he managed to maintain his physical and mental level throughout the match. “I’m happy to have been able to maintain a good physical and mental level for three sets,” he said.

That will now become one of the main questions surrounding his title defence. Alcaraz arrived in New York without a singles match since April, meaning every additional round will provide another test of how quickly his body can readjust to the demands of Grand Slam tennis.

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His expectations, however, remain deliberately restrained. “I don’t know how far I’m going to go in the tournament,” Alcaraz said. “I didn’t know if I was going to lose this one, if I’m going to make the second round final. I don’t know how far I’m going to go.”

For now, his focus is considerably simpler: rediscovering the feeling of competing. “What I just really want to do is enjoy every time that I’m going to walk into the court,” he said. “Feeling the energy from the people, feel the competition, walking up. And I’m thinking like, all right, it’s match day.”

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That mindset could prove important as the tournament progresses. Alcaraz has already overcome the biggest uncertainty of his comeback — whether his wrist would hold up under competitive pressure.

Now he has another challenge in front of him: proving that his body can withstand the accumulation of best-of-five tennis required to go deep at a Grand Slam.

His next test comes against Portugal’s Jaime Faria in the second round.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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