Carlos Alcaraz shows off new coif and healthy wrist at US Open in return to court

The wrist was fine.The hair was flowing.And Carlos Alcaraz was winning.The defending U.S.

Open champion’s comeback was stylish, successful and straight sets, returning from a long injury layoff with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 first-round rout of Russian Roman Safiullin.After a right wrist injury had sidelined Alcaraz for 4 ½ months and cost him two Grand Slams, he made his highly anticipated return to the court Monday.And the Spaniard looked as healthy as he did chic.“I was trying to enjoy as much as I can and trying not to think about anything else.

But it’s easy to say, difficult to do,” Alcaraz said.“You don’t know what’s going to happen in the match, after 4 ½ months almost.

You don’t know what’s going to happen in your body, in your mind, everything.It’s totally different.“It was a difficult day for me, to be honest, but at the same time, a really beautiful one.

Starting the day really nervous; really, really nervous, thinking I’m going to make it, I’m going to compete again.… I had more nerves than usual.

But just happy because, for me, my goal here is to compete, to enjoy, and let’s see how my body’s going to react after the matches, after the competition again.”Alcaraz first got hurt against Otto Virtanen in Barcelona and hadn’t played since April.As the injury layoff grew longer, so did the hair.Usually close-cropped, the Spaniard grew it out and even ended up with cornrows a month ago.

He pulled them out, and for his U.S.Open title defense went with a long, flowing coiffure.Now that he’s looked strong with the long hair, he’s going to keep it at least as long as his Flushing run lasts.“In the tournament, I’m going to keep it long, for sure.

Then I don’t know,” Alcaraz smiled.“But yeah, once I start with a hairstyle or something, I just have to keep it, until the tournament is finished.”Apparently, the hair was a hit, as was the rest of his fit.Alcaraz had Travis Scott in the stands, with the rapper’s Nik...