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![\"Carlos](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6a98eaadd98934d1568ed923jpeg.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarlos Alcaraz, of Spain, celebrates winning a match against Jaime Faria, of Portugal, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo\/Adam Hunger)<\/p>\n
The defending champion rebounded from a quick deficit by winning eight straight games and beat Jaime Faria 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
The No. 2-seeded Alcaraz dropped his serve midway through the first set but soon was back to playing long stretches of flawless tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that I just tried to be focused, tried to stay calm and I\u2019m thinking that good things are going to happen again,\u201d Alcaraz said.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t drop a set last year until the final against Jannik Sinner, becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2015 to go through his first six matches without doing so. He then beat Sinner in four sets for his second U.S. Open title.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old Alcaraz then picked up his seventh major title at this year\u2019s Australian Open and is on a 16-match winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments.<\/p>\n
But after missing the French Open and Wimbledon during his absence, even Alcaraz said he didn\u2019t know what to expect in Flushing Meadows, where he won his first major title in 2022 at 19.<\/p>\n
Daniil Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion the year before that, said a player of Alcaraz\u2019s caliber is always a top contender any time he is in the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no idea how Carlos\u2019 wrist is going to feel, body is going to feel going later into the tournament, but he\u2019s definitely a top favorite for the title,\u201d Medvedev said.<\/p>\n
Faria, three months younger than Alcaraz, broke for a 4-3 lead in the first set and used a powerful serve to stay ahead. Alcaraz felt after getting broken that he was rushing too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that I just wanted to play short points, which was a mistake for me,\u201d he said. \u201cI just needed to play patient, to play long rallies, three, four, five shots, and then go for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n