US Open 2025: Alcaraz returns, Wawrinka bows out in emotional farewell on Day 2
Synopsis
Alcaraz's return from a four-month wrist injury was the headline act, but Wawrinka's farewell — two tight sets before a 6-0 third against Berrettini — gave Day 2 its emotional weight. With Shelton, Tsitsipas, and Auger-Aliassime all surviving scares, the men's draw is wide open beyond the defending champion.
Key Takeaways
Carlos Alcaraz beat Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on his return from a four-month wrist injury to begin his US Open title defence.
Stan Wawrinka , 41 , lost 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini in what is expected to be his final Grand Slam match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas struck 50 winners to rally past 10th seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4 , ending Fils' six-match winning run.
Ben Shelton recovered from losing the first set to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium .
Felix Auger-Aliassime (3rd seed) survived rain delays and two missed match points to beat Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 .
731 Sebastian Gorzny saved five match points in a nearly four-hour five-set win over Raphael Collignon .
Carlos Alcaraz made a confident return to Grand Slam singles competition on Day 2 of the US Open at Flushing Meadows, while Stan Wawrinka received a heartfelt send-off from the New York crowd in what is expected to be his final Grand Slam appearance. The opening rounds on 1 September delivered a string of compelling storylines across the men's draw.
Alcaraz Resumes Title Defence
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to singles action after a four-month wrist injury layoff, dispatching Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in a composed first-round display. The Spaniard had eased back into competitive tennis via the mixed doubles the previous week, but this was his first singles outing since April. He showed few signs of rust as he launched his bid to retain the title he won last year.
Wawrinka's Emotional Farewell
Former champion Stan Wawrinka, who won the US Open in 2016, bowed out with a 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 defeat to Matteo Berrettini. The 41-year-old Swiss, set to retire later this season, pushed Berrettini hard through two tightly contested sets before the Italian pulled clear in the third. The New York crowd gave Wawrinka a warm and emotional farewell befitting a three-time Grand Slam champion.
Shelton and Tsitsipas Rally to Advance
American No. 1 Ben Shelton recovered from a poor start to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, backed by a vociferous home crowd. The result extended Shelton's strong recent form following his title defence in Canada.
Stefanos Tsitsipas produced one of the day's most impressive comebacks, rallying from a set and a break down to beat 10th seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4. The Greek struck 50 winners to end Fils' six-match winning streak, setting up a second-round clash with qualifier Lloyd Harris.
Auger-Aliassime Survives Rain and Match Points
Third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, a two-time semi-finalist in New York, edged past Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a match interrupted by roughly an hour of rain. The 26-year-old Canadian, two wins shy of 300 career tour-level victories, let slip two match points while serving at 5-4 in the fourth set before regrouping to close out the win. He faces Karen Khachanov next, after the Russian beat Roman Andres Burruchaga 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
Other Notable Results from Day 2
World No. 731 Sebastian Gorzny produced a stunning upset, saving five match points to outlast Raphael Collignon 3-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(9) in a contest lasting nearly four hours. Brandon Nakashima was equally dominant, firing 34 winners in an 89-minute 6-2, 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Sebastian Baez. He next faces fellow Californian Alex Michelsen, who beat Federico Cina 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. 14th seed Learner Tien rounded off the day with his maiden US Open victory, defeating Nuno Borges 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
With the top seeds progressing and several upsets narrowly avoided, the second round at Flushing Meadows promises to be equally eventful.
Point of View
But the real question is durability — a four-month wrist layoff at 22 is a different proposition than a routine rest period, and deep draws will test whether the recovery is complete. Wawrinka's exit, meanwhile, is a reminder that the era of the Big Three's contemporaries is closing fast. The more telling subplot is Tsitsipas: 50 winners against a player in the form of Fils suggests the Greek may finally be finding consistency at Slams, something that has eluded him despite four semi-final appearances. If Shelton can convert his home-crowd energy into sustained baseline aggression, he is a genuine dark horse in the bottom half.
NationPress
1 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Carlos Alcaraz perform on his return at the US Open 2025?
Alcaraz won his first-round match against Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, marking a successful return from a four-month wrist injury. It was his first singles match since April, and he looked assured throughout the contest.
Was the US Open Stan Wawrinka's last Grand Slam match?
Wawrinka, who is set to retire later this season, lost 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini on Day 2, in what is widely expected to be his final Grand Slam appearance. The 41-year-old won the US Open in 2016 and received an emotional farewell from the New York crowd.
How did Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Arthur Fils at the US Open?
Tsitsipas rallied from a set and a break down to defeat 10th seed Arthur Fils 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4, striking 50 winners in the process. The win ended Fils' six-match winning streak and set up a second-round meeting with qualifier Lloyd Harris.
What happened in Ben Shelton's first-round match?
Shelton recovered from losing the opening set 1-6 to defeat Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The American No. 1 was boosted by a vocal home crowd and carried his strong recent form into the tournament.
Who is Felix Auger-Aliassime's next opponent at US Open 2025?
Third seed Auger-Aliassime faces Karen Khachanov in the second round after beating Rinky Hijikata 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Khachanov advanced comfortably, defeating Roman Andres Burruchaga 6-3, 6-0, 6-1.
