Alcaraz's Serve Carried Him to U.S. Open Glory. His Next Test Awaits

SUMMARY

Carlos Alcaraz is back at the U.S. Open, but this title defense carries a very different challenge from his triumphant run a year ago. The defending champion spent more than four months away from competition because of a wrist injury before returning at Flushing Meadows. He has now reached the quarter-finals and will face American Ben Shelton, giving him a major test of how fully his game and body have recovered.

Carlos Alcaraz's most recent U.S. Open title was built on one of the most important weapons in modern tennis: his serve.

In 2025, the Spaniard repeatedly used his delivery to put himself in control of points, eventually defeating Jannik Sinner in the final to win his second U.S. Open championship. A year later, however, Alcaraz has returned to New York under completely different circumstances.

Instead of arriving with uninterrupted momentum, he entered the tournament having spent more than four months away from competitive tennis because of a right-wrist injury.

Now the defending champion is attempting something considerably more difficult: finding his best level while simultaneously proving that his body is ready for the demands of another Grand Slam campaign.

A Long-Awaited Return

Alcaraz had not played a competitive singles match since April before arriving at the U.S. Open.

His wrist injury forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon, two tournaments where the 23-year-old Spaniard would normally have been among the leading contenders.

That long absence created obvious questions. Would his serve hold up? Would his forehand have the same explosiveness? Could his movement withstand the physical demands of best-of-five-set tennis?

His opening match provided an encouraging answer.

Alcaraz defeated Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, winning his first match in 139 days. More importantly, he finished without dropping a set and reported that his wrist was pain-free.

The Champion Has Quickly Found His Rhythm

The early rounds were never going to be simply about winning for Alcaraz. They were also about rebuilding confidence.

His first match contained understandable nerves after such a long layoff. But as the tournament progressed, his tennis became increasingly convincing.

Against Yibing Wu in the third round, Alcaraz won 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Then came Tommy Paul in the fourth round, where the Spaniard produced one of his most impressive performances of the tournament.

He defeated Paul 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours, reaching the quarter-finals without dropping a set in the match.

Reuters described the performance as a significant boost to Alcaraz's confidence as he continues his attempt to defend the title. 0

The Serve That Helped Win the Last Title

When Alcaraz won the 2025 U.S. Open, his serve was one of the foundations of his success.

He was able to start points on his terms, protect himself from pressure and create opportunities to attack with his forehand on the next shot.

That combination is particularly dangerous on the hard courts of New York, where a powerful first serve followed by aggressive baseline tennis can shorten points dramatically.

But after a wrist injury and months away from competition, the question is not simply whether Alcaraz can serve well. It is whether he can maintain that level throughout the later stages of a Grand Slam.

Ben Shelton Presents a Different Challenge

Alcaraz's next opponent is American Ben Shelton, one of the biggest servers and most explosive athletes in the men's game.

Shelton has already demonstrated his ability to handle the pressure of the U.S. Open crowd. He defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals and earn a showdown with Alcaraz.

The matchup creates an intriguing contrast.

Alcaraz is one of the most complete players in tennis, capable of defending, attacking, changing direction and producing spectacular shots from almost anywhere on the court.

Shelton, meanwhile, can put enormous pressure on an opponent with his serve and first strike of the point.

That could make the serve one of the most important factors in the quarter-final.

Shelton Knows What He Is Facing

Shelton has lost all three of his previous meetings with Alcaraz, but he is approaching this match with confidence after his progress through the tournament.

He has also seen enough of Alcaraz's comeback to believe the Spaniard is already close to his normal level.

The challenge for Shelton will be preventing Alcaraz from turning the match into a physical and tactical battle from the baseline. If the Spaniard establishes control early, Shelton could find himself spending too much time defending against one of the sport's most aggressive returners.

Alcaraz Is Still Learning About His Body

Perhaps the most important part of Alcaraz's comeback is something spectators cannot always see on television.

Every match is giving him information about how his wrist and overall body respond to competitive tennis after such a long break.

The difference between playing one match and surviving several best-of-five-set battles is enormous.

That is why Alcaraz has approached his return with a degree of caution. He does not need to prove that he can produce spectacular tennis for a few minutes. He needs to demonstrate that he can repeat that performance day after day.

A Chance to Defend His Crown

Despite the injury layoff, Alcaraz has already placed himself in position to defend his title.

His run also extends an extraordinary Grand Slam streak. His victory over Paul was his 18th consecutive Grand Slam match win, according to Reuters. 1

That statistic shows just how difficult it has been to knock Alcaraz out of the biggest tournaments when he is healthy.

But the challenge becomes significantly greater from the quarter-finals onward.

An All-American Path Could Follow

If Alcaraz defeats Shelton, he could face another American in the semi-finals.

Frances Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen are on the other side of that section of the draw, meaning the Spaniard could potentially have to overcome two American opponents in succession to reach the final.

That would create a fascinating atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where American fans will be hoping one of their players can end the country's long wait for a men's Grand Slam singles champion.

Reuters noted that Shelton's victory over Tsitsipas set up the quarter-final with Alcaraz, while Tiafoe and Michelsen also advanced into the same half of the draw. 2

The Bigger Question: How Far Can He Go?

Alcaraz's return has already exceeded the most cautious expectations.

He has reached the last eight without losing a set in his first four matches and appears to be getting stronger as the tournament progresses.

But winning the tournament would require him to survive three more best-of-five-set matches against some of the world's best players.

That is where the real test begins.

The early rounds demonstrated that Alcaraz can compete again. The quarter-finals and beyond will show whether he can sustain that level under the extreme physical and mental pressure of a Grand Slam title defense.

Why His Return Matters

Alcaraz is already one of the defining players of his generation. His return therefore matters beyond a single tournament.

With Jannik Sinner absent because of injury, the men's draw has opened up in a way that gives Alcaraz an important opportunity.

He has already won the 2026 Australian Open and is now attempting to add another major title after missing two Grand Slam tournaments during the middle of the season.

A successful U.S. Open defense would make his comeback one of the most remarkable stories of the tennis season.

Conclusion

Carlos Alcaraz returned to the U.S. Open carrying questions that did not exist when he lifted the trophy in New York last year.

The wrist injury kept him away from tennis for more than four months, and nobody knew exactly how quickly he could regain his timing, power and confidence.

So far, the answer has been impressive.

He has moved into the quarter-finals, his wrist has held up and his tennis has improved with every match. But Ben Shelton now represents a much bigger examination.

The player who served his way to the 2025 U.S. Open title is back. Now comes the part that will determine whether this is simply a successful return—or the beginning of another championship run.

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