US Open 2026 Day 2 Preview: Alcaraz Returns, Sabalenka Begins Three-Peat Quest, Fils Faces Tsitsipas
The 2026 US Open continues on Monday, August 31, with one of the most fascinating opening-round lineups at Flushing Meadows as defending champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka begin their singles campaigns.
For Alcaraz, the occasion carries considerably more significance than a normal first-round Grand Slam match. The defending champion returns to singles competition following a lengthy absence caused by a wrist injury, and his first assignment is far from straightforward against dangerous Russian Roman Safiullin.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, begins her pursuit of a third consecutive US Open women’s singles championship against Colombia’s Camila Osorio. If Sabalenka can successfully defend her crown again, she would become the first woman since Serena Williams from 2012-2014 to win three straight US Open singles titles.
Elsewhere, one of the best first-round matches in either draw pits rising French star Arthur Fils against former world No. 3 and two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
With established champions, returning superstars and one of the ATP Tour’s fastest-rising players all in action, Monday promises to provide an early indication of how the 2026 US Open could unfold.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Roman Safiullin: The Defending Champion Finally Returns
There may not be a more closely watched player during the opening round of the 2026 US Open than Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Spaniard returns to singles competition after approximately five months away because of a wrist injury, beginning his US Open title defence against Roman Safiullin.
Alcaraz’s absence has been one of the defining stories of the 2026 men’s season.
After capturing his seventh Grand Slam singles championship at the Australian Open, Alcaraz suffered the wrist problem during the European clay-court season. His rehabilitation ultimately kept him away from Roland Garros, Wimbledon and most of the North American hard-court swing.
The US Open now represents both a comeback and an opportunity.
Alcaraz has already proven himself exceptionally comfortable in New York. He won his breakthrough Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2022 and captured the championship again in 2025.
Now the No. 2 seed is attempting to win his third US Open championship in five years.
But after such a lengthy absence, the opening rounds could be particularly important.
Match fitness, confidence in the wrist and Alcaraz’s ability to rediscover his trademark explosiveness will all be closely scrutinized.
Safiullin Is a Dangerous First-Round Opponent
Roman Safiullin is exactly the type of opponent a returning superstar would probably prefer to avoid.
The Russian possesses powerful, relatively flat groundstrokes and can take time away from opponents from both wings. When Safiullin finds his range from the baseline, he has enough firepower to challenge elite players.
He has also demonstrated that he isn’t intimidated by Alcaraz.
Their previous meetings include Safiullin’s memorable straight-sets victory over the Spaniard at the 2023 Paris Masters, while Alcaraz responded by defeating the Russian at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Safiullin also produced an encouraging run at Wimbledon this summer, reaching the fourth round before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
That combination of power, confidence and experience against Alcaraz makes this an unusually demanding opening test.
Keys to Alcaraz vs Safiullin
For Alcaraz, the biggest question may simply be how quickly he can rediscover his competitive rhythm.
Expect him to use variety early rather than immediately turning the contest into a pure power battle. His drop shot, changes of pace and willingness to attack the net could prevent Safiullin from establishing a comfortable baseline rhythm.
Alcaraz will also want to protect his service games efficiently. Long, physical sets are unlikely to be ideal after such a lengthy layoff.
Safiullin’s strategy should be considerably more direct.
The Russian needs to attack Alcaraz’s second serve, take the ball early and test the Spaniard’s movement and timing from the opening games.
If Safiullin can keep Alcaraz behind the baseline, this match could become uncomfortable for the defending champion.
Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz in four sets.
Alcaraz may need time to shake off the rust, but his combination of athleticism, variety and Grand Slam experience should ultimately carry him through.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Camila Osorio: The Three-Peat Chase Begins
Aryna Sabalenka enters the 2026 US Open with an opportunity to accomplish something that hasn’t been seen in women’s tennis for more than a decade.
The world No. 1 is attempting to win her third consecutive US Open singles championship.
Not since Serena Williams won three straight titles between 2012 and 2014 has a woman completed a New York three-peat.
Sabalenka has developed into one of the defining hard-court players of her generation, and the conditions at Flushing Meadows suit her aggressive game exceptionally well.
Her enormous serve allows her to dictate points immediately, while her ability to produce penetrating groundstrokes from both wings makes it extremely difficult for opponents to wrestle control of rallies away from her.
Her first challenge comes against Camila Osorio.
Can Osorio Disrupt Sabalenka’s Power?
Osorio brings a very different style to the matchup.
The Colombian is an excellent mover who thrives when she can extend rallies, change direction and force opponents to hit additional shots.
Against Sabalenka, however, simply defending will not be enough.
Osorio must find ways to prevent the world No. 1 from controlling points with the first strike.
That means producing depth on returns, making Sabalenka move laterally and looking for opportunities to change the height and rhythm of rallies.
If the match becomes a straightforward exchange of baseline power, the advantage overwhelmingly shifts toward the defending champion.
What Sabalenka Needs to Do
The formula for Sabalenka is relatively simple.
Serve well, attack Osorio’s second serve and control the centre of the court.
One of Sabalenka’s greatest improvements during her rise to the top of women’s tennis has been her ability to combine tremendous power with greater patience. She no longer needs to attempt a winner from every attacking position.
That evolution has made her especially difficult to defeat over two weeks at a Grand Slam.
The biggest danger on Monday may be looking too far ahead.
Sabalenka’s draw contains several potentially dangerous opponents, but Grand Slam championships are rarely won by worrying about the second week during the first.
Her immediate objective is Osorio.
Prediction: Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
Osorio’s movement could create several entertaining rallies, but Sabalenka’s serve and first-strike tennis should ultimately prove too powerful.
Arthur Fils vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: Blockbuster First-Round Battle
While Alcaraz and Sabalenka will generate many of Monday’s headlines, Arthur Fils vs Stefanos Tsitsipas may be the best pure tennis matchup of the day.
It is also an intriguing collision between two players moving in very different career directions.
Fils arrives in New York as one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour.
The 22-year-old Frenchman captured his first ATP Masters 1000 championship in Cincinnati, defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final and climbing to the brink of the world’s Top 10.
After a back injury derailed much of his 2025 season, Fils has responded with the best tennis of his career.
His explosive movement, huge forehand and increasingly effective serve have transformed him from an exciting prospect into a legitimate threat at the biggest tournaments in the sport.
The question is no longer whether Fils can defeat elite opponents.
It’s whether he is ready to become a genuine Grand Slam contender.
New York could provide the answer.
Tsitsipas Looking for a Grand Slam Revival
For Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2026 US Open represents a very different opportunity.
The former world No. 3 has experienced a difficult stretch over the past two seasons, with injuries and inconsistency contributing to a significant ranking decline.
There have been encouraging signs recently.
Tsitsipas captured the ATP 250 title in Gstaad in July and arrives in New York working with Patrick Mouratoglou, the longtime former coach of Serena Williams.
At his best, Tsitsipas remains capable of producing elite tennis.
His serve and forehand combination can dominate matches, while his willingness to move forward gives opponents a different challenge from many of the baseline-heavy players on tour.
But New York has historically been one of his most difficult Grand Slam venues.
Despite reaching the finals of Roland Garros and the Australian Open during his career, Tsitsipas has never advanced beyond the third round at the US Open.
Monday therefore represents both a major challenge and a major opportunity.
Defeating one of the hottest young players in tennis would immediately change the conversation surrounding the Greek’s tournament.
The Tactical Battle: Fils’ Power Against Tsitsipas’ Variety
Expect Fils to target the Tsitsipas one-handed backhand relentlessly.
The Frenchman can generate enormous pace and topspin from his forehand, particularly when he has time to run around his backhand.
If Fils can repeatedly pin Tsitsipas into the backhand corner before attacking the open court, he can control the geometry of the match.
Tsitsipas must prevent that pattern from becoming predictable.
Serving well will be critical, but so will his ability to move forward.
Using his forehand aggressively, attacking shorter balls and finishing points at the net could prevent Fils from settling into extended baseline exchanges.
There is also a significant experience gap.
Tsitsipas has played two Grand Slam finals and numerous matches deep into major tournaments. Fils is still learning how to manage the unique pressure of best-of-five-set Grand Slam tennis.
That could become important if Monday’s match stretches deep into a fourth or fifth set.
Prediction: Arthur Fils in four sets.
Tsitsipas possesses enough quality to make this extremely competitive, but Fils enters New York with greater confidence, momentum and firepower.
Why Carlos Alcaraz’s Return Changes the Men’s Draw
Alcaraz’s return adds another fascinating layer to an already unusual US Open.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew because of injury, leaving the men’s field without one of its dominant forces.
Alexander Zverev therefore occupies the No. 1 seed, while Alcaraz anchors the bottom half as the No. 2 seed.
That bottom half is loaded with former champions and dangerous contenders, including Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic.
If the seeds hold, Alcaraz could eventually encounter Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals before a potential semifinal against Djokovic.
But projections are particularly dangerous when evaluating a player returning after nearly five months away.
Before Alcaraz can think about defending his championship, he must prove his body and game are ready for Grand Slam tennis again.
Safiullin will provide that first examination.
Can Sabalenka Make US Open History?
Sabalenka’s pursuit of three consecutive championships gives the women’s tournament one of its defining storylines.
Winning any Grand Slam three years in succession is extraordinarily difficult.
Doing it in New York—where crowd energy, night sessions, weather conditions and the pressure of defending a title create additional challenges—makes the achievement even more significant.
Sabalenka has already established herself as one of the premier hard-court champions of her era.
Another title would elevate her US Open legacy even further.
But the women’s draw contains plenty of challengers, with Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Mirra Andreeva and Naomi Osaka among the players capable of making deep runs.
The road begins against Osorio.
Three Matches, Three Major US Open Storylines
Monday’s featured matches neatly capture three of the biggest questions surrounding the 2026 tournament.
Is Carlos Alcaraz ready?
The defending champion has the talent to win the tournament, but five months without singles competition creates uncertainty that even one of the world’s best players cannot completely erase.
Can Aryna Sabalenka make history?
A third consecutive championship would place Sabalenka alongside some of the greatest US Open champions of the modern era.
Is Arthur Fils ready for a Grand Slam breakthrough?
Winning Cincinnati demonstrated that Fils can win an elite tournament. Defeating an experienced major finalist such as Tsitsipas would be another important step toward establishing himself as a genuine Grand Slam championship threat.
US Open 2026 Monday Predictions
Carlos Alcaraz vs Roman Safiullin: Alcaraz in four sets.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Camila Osorio: Sabalenka in straight sets.
Arthur Fils vs Stefanos Tsitsipas: Fils in four sets.
Final Thoughts: A Huge Monday at Flushing Meadows
Day 2 of the 2026 US Open could provide some of the first major clues about how the final Grand Slam of the season will unfold.
Carlos Alcaraz’s return is unquestionably the headline.
After months of rehabilitation and uncertainty, the defending champion finally gets the opportunity to compete in singles again—and he does so on the same courts where he has already captured two US Open championships.
Sabalenka begins a different journey.
The world No. 1 isn’t returning from an extended absence. She’s chasing history, attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams to win three consecutive US Open singles championships.
And then there is Fils against Tsitsipas.
One player represents the emerging generation of men’s tennis and arrives with enormous momentum. The other is a former world No. 3 attempting to prove that his days of challenging for the sport’s biggest trophies aren’t over.
That’s what makes Monday at Flushing Meadows so compelling.
Alcaraz is returning. Sabalenka is chasing history. Fils is trying to announce himself as a Grand Slam contender.
The first round of the 2026 US Open is only getting started, but Day 2 already feels like it could shape the story of the entire tournament.
