Carlos Alcaraz shook off a rough opening set to notch his 16th straight Grand Slam win. The defending champion overcame serving problems and a tough opponent, keeping his US Open title defense alive.
Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open nearly took a wrong turn in the second round. The defending champion dropped the first set to Jaime Faria, his serve shaky and the Arthur Ashe crowd restless. For a moment, his Grand Slam streak looked at risk. But Alcaraz steadied himself, saved two break points early in the second set, and then took over the match. Faria couldn’t keep up as Alcaraz found his rhythm and ran away with the next three sets.
Alcaraz’s frustration was obvious—he vented to his team about his serve between points. But he managed to reset, avoided a second break, and swept the second set 6-0. From there, the match was his. After 2 hours and 40 minutes, the scoreboard read 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. That’s 16 Grand Slam wins in a row for Alcaraz. Reports from Yahoo Sports and the US Open highlighted how quickly he turned things around after the first set, taking control and never letting go.
Alcaraz has never lost an ATP match to a player younger than himself, a unique statistic he preserved with this win over Faria.
His numbers improved as the match went on. He outplayed Faria in almost every category except aces (4 to 5). At the net, Alcaraz won 24 of 30 points—a clear step up from his previous round. He finished with 43 winners, showing more confidence as the match progressed. Faria started strong but couldn’t keep the pressure on. According to the US Open’s official reports, Faria had earned his spot in the main draw with a solid first round, but couldn’t match Alcaraz’s level as the match wore on.
Next up for Alcaraz is Yibing Wu, who beat James Duckworth in straight sets to reach the third round. Alcaraz has played Wu before, beating him two years ago in Shanghai. He’s also comfortable with the energy of day sessions at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where the crowd can make a difference. Alcaraz mentioned the unique feel of day versus night matches and thanked the fans—especially those from Spain and the Spanish-speaking community—for their support. The Alcaraz–Faria match was scheduled for the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, a detail noted in Spanish-language coverage as a factor in the match’s atmosphere and his performance.
The noise inside Arthur Ashe was intense, but Alcaraz stayed focused after his early slip. He thanked the crowd in Spanish and promised more in the next round. His resilience and ability to adjust tactics have kept his title defense on track, even as his serve still needs work.
The 2026 US Open officially began on August 23 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, marking the 146th edition of the tournament and the final Grand Slam of the season. Alcaraz entered as the defending champion and second seed, returning to the tour after a brief pause, which added to the pressure and expectations surrounding his opening matches.
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The US Open is known for its dramatic swings and tense moments. Alcaraz’s comeback fits right in, another example of how quickly things can change at this tournament. Early setbacks don’t always decide the outcome—sometimes they set the stage for a turnaround.
Alcaraz’s win is a reminder that even top players feel the pressure and have technical lapses. What sets him apart is how he recovers and takes control when it matters. As the tournament moves forward, the real test isn’t whether Alcaraz can win when everything clicks, but whether he can keep finding solutions when it doesn’t. His latest match suggests he’s ready for both.
