Carlos Alcaraz is playing just his second singles match in more than four months as he continues his return from an injury break. His first-round performance was far from convincing, particularly as he struggled to maintain his level at times, suggesting that he still needs more match time to get anywhere close to his best tennis.
If that level persists, Jaime Faria could be well placed to make this a highly competitive contest.
Faria Faces A Tough Test Against Alcaraz
- Faria has a 1–3 record in second-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments.
- He has a 1–2 record against Top 10 players.
- Alcaraz has a 4–1 record in second-round matches at the US Open.
- He has not lost to a player ranked outside the Top 50 since Miami last year.
HTH
This wil be their first meeting.
Faria Battles Through a Five-Set Thriller to Reach Round Two
Jaime Faria moved into the second round of the US Open after an eventful five-set victory over Jenson Brooksby, 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 1-6, 6-2. Despite struggling with his serve, committing 14 double faults and losing serve seven times, the Portuguese raised his level when it mattered most and dominated the closing stages to seal the win.
This is already his best result at the US Open, with his previous two appearances ending either in the qualifying stages or the first round.
The 23-year-old has shown encouraging progress this season, reaching the fourth round at the Cincinnati Masters, the third round at the French Open, and the quarterfinals in Estoril and Rio de Janeiro.
Combined with two finals on the Challenger circuit, these results helped him achieve a career-high ranking of No. 70 last week. He now heads into this clash with a 1-3 record in second-round matches at Grand Slams.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Portugal |
| Age | Born 06 August 2003 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 72 |
| Career High | No. 70 (24 August 2026) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 47 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 0 |
Alcaraz Makes a Confident Start to His Title Defence
Carlos Alcaraz began his US Open title defence with a solid straight-sets victory over tricky opponent Roman Safiullin, winning 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. He dropped serve only once and converted four of his seven break-point opportunities in an assured opening performance.
The win was particularly significant as it marked his first tour-level victory since Barcelona in April. The Spaniard had made an excellent start to the season, winning titles at the Australian Open and Doha, reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells, and finishing runner-up in Monte Carlo.
However, a wrist injury halted his momentum and forced him to spend the next four months away from competition. While his draw and overall quality give him a strong chance to defend his title, his fitness remains the biggest question mark heading into the latter stages of the tournament.
Alcaraz has played five second-round matches at the US Open and won four of them, including during his title-winning campaigns in 2022 and 2025. His only defeat at this stage came in 2024.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Age | Born 05 May 2003 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 3 |
| Career High | No. 1 (12 September 2022) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 2 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 27 |