Alcaraz overcomes first-set scare, continues US Open title defense journey

New York – When the ball hit the net in the third game of the second set, Carlos Alcaraz nodded slightly, as if he had seen something the stands couldn't catch. An hour earlier, the world No. 1 had just suffered a break in the opening set, something he experienced only three times in the entire 2026 US Open. But instead of rushing to recover, Alcaraz stood still at the baseline, adjusted his strings, and began to look at the space behind his opponent – a detail I have documented for 43 years of following professional tennis. Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz lost the first set to an unheralded American player who was playing the match of his life. But what caught my attention was not the 4-6 score, but how Alcaraz walked off his chair after losing the set – no signs of anxiety, no rush. He exchanged a single glance with coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, then stepped into the second set with an entirely different rhythm. "After that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I'm thinking that good things are going to happen again," Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference, after completing a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 victory. This is not the first time Alcaraz has shown miraculous recovery ability. According to data from my forty-page notebook – which never lies – Alcaraz holds a 14-10 (58.3%) win rate in Grand Slam matches when losing the first set. That number places him third in the Open Era (minimum 20 matches), behind only Bjorn Borg (27-13, 67.5%) and John Newcombe (15-10, 60%). Notably, he has surpassed Jannik Sinner, who sits at 15-11 (57.7%). But what's more interesting is how Alcaraz handles the situation. At last year's US Open, he didn't drop a set until the final against Sinner, becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2026 to go through his first six matches without doing so. He then beat Sinner in four sets for his second US Open title. This year, losing a set as early as the second round could be a worrying sign, but I see the opposite. "When everyone looks at the ball, I only see the directing hand from the sideline." That's the phrase I often write when observing great players. With Alcaraz, that directing hand is patience. He doesn't try to end points immediately, but waits for opponents to make mistakes. In the second set, Alcaraz hit only 3 winners, but forced his opponent into 12 unforced errors. He read the match like a book, knowing his calmness would make the opponent lose patience. Tournament statistics show Alcaraz has been broken three times in this event, including twice on Wednesday night. But to understand better, I need to put this into context: at US Open 2026, he was broken only three times in 101 service games en route to the title. This suggests his serve remains solid; it's just that tonight's opponent played above himself in the first set. Alcaraz arrived in New York as the 2026 Australian Open champion – his seventh Grand Slam title. He is on a 16-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments, the longest of his career. In his last 30 major matches, he has won 29, losing only to Sinner in the 2026 Wimbledon final. These numbers not only reflect class, but also show a rare maturity for a 23-year-old. But I want to offer a contrarian view: losing the first set in the second round might be good for Alcaraz. Last year, he cruised through the early rounds too easily, and when he reached the final, he faced a powerful Sinner. Having to fight early will help Alcaraz rediscover the tension he needs to stay focused over two weeks. I have witnessed many champions fail because they were too comfortable in early rounds. Alcaraz seems to understand that. Alcaraz's next opponent will be Wu Yibing – the Chinese player who is in impressive form. Wu has beaten two strong opponents to reach the third round, and this will be the first meeting between the two. Wu plays aggressive tennis, but he will face an Alcaraz who has been "alerted" early. The match is scheduled for Friday, and I believe Alcaraz will win convincingly, but not easily. The silent sacrificer doesn't appear on the scoreboard, only imprinted in the footsteps of teammates. For Alcaraz, that sacrifice is accepting a lost set to learn adaptation. He doesn't avoid difficulties but faces them with the calm of a champion. The practice court has no spectators, but all the answers are there. I have seen Alcaraz practice trailing scenarios for hours, and now I understand why he never panics. The match against Wu Yibing will be a real test of Alcaraz's patience. Wu is a player with a good serve and prefers fast attacking play. But if Alcaraz continues to stay as calm as he did on Wednesday night, I believe he will go deep into the tournament. And perhaps, losing the first set in the second round is exactly the push he needs to successfully defend his US Open title. As I left Arthur Ashe Stadium last night, I saw a memorable image: Alcaraz standing in the corridor, looking up at the stands where his family was seated. He didn't wave, just nodded slightly. That's a moment I will record in my notebook – the moment of a champion who has understood that to defend a title, sometimes you must lose a set before finding yourself again.