Carlos Alcaraz had to overcome a difficult and rather frustrating start before finding his rhythm and advancing to the third round of the U.S. Open, defeating Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
The Spaniard found himself under pressure early on against the world No. 72, who capitalized on his opponent’s serving struggles and took the first set 6-4. Alcaraz had a first-serve success rate of just 52% during that stretch and made no secret of his intense frustration.
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In a moment of tension, he turned toward his box and, speaking in Spanish, lashed out at his serving performance, using particularly strong language. His reaction was captured during the broadcast and quickly became a talking point, as it reflected his frustration with the way he had started the match.
Alcaraz’s drop shots never miss, and if he follows it up with a lob, he finishes you off. He’s so precise, and the way he hides his hand—he’s truly a magician. pic.twitter.com/1Gc04McePn
— Seba Torres (@sntorres7) September 3, 2026
The picture, however, changed dramatically right after that. Alcaraz came out much more aggressively in the second set, quickly broke serve, and then gave Faria no breathing room, winning the set 6-0. He admitted after the match that the early break was the turning point that restored his confidence and helped him play with greater composure.
From that point on, the Spaniard significantly stepped up his performance. He took the third set 6-3 and the fourth 6-2, and by the end of the match had raised his first-serve percentage to 62%.
Alcaraz’s presence in New York had generated particular interest, as the US Open marks his return to action after an absence of about four months due to a right wrist injury. The injury had kept him out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and in the meantime, he also lost his top spot in the world rankings.
In the first round, he showed early on that he was in good form, defeating Roman Shafyulin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, while his comeback victory over Faria confirmed that he can handle even tougher situations.
In the third round, Alcaraz will face China’s Wu Yibing, ranked No. 113 in the world, who has had a very strong run so far in New York. The two have met once before, at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, when the Spaniard prevailed 7-6(5), 6-3.
*photo source: AP
