Carlos Alcaraz showed his resilience once again at the 2026 US Open, recovering from a first-set setback to defeat Portugal’s Jaime Faria and book his place in the third round.

The defending champion lost the opening set 6-4 on Wednesday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Faria making the most of Alcaraz’s early errors and powerful serving to take control.

But the Spaniard quickly turned the match around.

Alcaraz raced through the second set 6-0, then continued his momentum to win the third 6-3 and the fourth 6-2, completing a 2-6? Wait, the correct score is 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 victory in two hours and 40 minutes.

The 23-year-old produced 43 winners compared with Faria’s 27 and converted seven of his 12 break-point opportunities. He also won eight consecutive games during the middle stages of the contest as he took control.

The victory is particularly significant because Alcaraz is competing in New York after a lengthy layoff caused by a wrist injury. His movement and powerful groundstrokes showed few signs of the problem as he recovered from his slow start.

“It was a tough match. I was feeling great, but I was in a rush,” Alcaraz said after the match.

The win takes Alcaraz into the third round, where he will face China’s Wu Yibing. The pair have met once previously, with Alcaraz winning their 2024 Shanghai Masters encounter in straight sets.

For Alcaraz, the comeback continues to gather momentum. After dropping a set for the first time in New York since 2024, he responded in emphatic fashion  a sign that his confidence and rhythm are returning at precisely the right time as he attempts to defend his US Open crown.

Alcaraz 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 Faria. Next stop: the third round.