The 2026 US Open witnessed triumphant opening performances from both defending champions. Carlos Alcaraz made a successful comeback to competitive singles play following his injury layoff since spring, demonstrating encouraging form in his first-round encounter. Meanwhile, fellow titleholder Aryna Sabalenka advanced decisively through her opening match. Their dominant victories set an impressive tone for their title defenses at Flushing Meadows, with both players appearing ready for a deep tournament run.

Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.