‘Pain-free’ Alcaraz brushes aside qualifier in US Open return after four months out

Spaniard beats Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Alcaraz has not played since April with wrist injury As Carlos Alcaraz edged closer to the conclusion of his first singles set in more than four and a half months, like so many times in his career instinct took over. Up 5-4, 30-15 in set one, Alcaraz swept forward to the n

NEW YORK, Aug 31 : Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz needed only a New York minute to hit his stride after a nearly five-month injury layoff, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4 6-4 6-4 on Monday in the first round of the U.S. Open.Alcaraz arrived at Flushing Meadows as one of the tournament's biggest question marks, h