Trying the viral $100 caviar chicken nuggets at the U.S. Open
Take a taste of some of the U.S. Open’s most talked-about food and drinks, including the viral $100 caviar chicken nuggets, Gangnam Style chicken sandwich, kimbap and more.
Even the best players in the world get nervous, especially when returning from a serious injury and uncertain how their bodies will respond.
That was the case for defending US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz advanced through his first two matches of the tournament. He coasted past Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, but dropped the opening set and needed four sets against Jaime Faria. A third-round matchup against Yibing Wu awaits.
The 23-year-old Spaniard says the training, recovery, and nutrition gave him the confidence to succeed whenever he was cleared to step out on the court after his right wrist injury, which kept him out for more than four months.
“Obviously, I needed my doctors and my team to tell me that everything was OK, but I also needed to feel it myself. We increased the intensity little by little, and I started doing longer and harder practices to see how the wrist reacted,” Alcaraz told USA TODAY Sports. “There is also a mental part. After an injury, you have to trust your body again and stop thinking about the injury every time you hit the ball.”
Alcaraz returned last week to play mixed doubles with Serena Williams, making it through to the quarterfinals. His nerves were evident, as he double-faulted on the first point, but playing with the 23-time Grand Slam champion put his mind at ease.
“Serena made it really easy for me. We were talking, having fun, and enjoying the moment, and then I could start thinking less and just play tennis,” he said. “It was a really special way to come back and something I will always remember.”
This year’s US Open is unique as the No. 1 player in the world and perhaps Alcaraz’s biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, is out with a knee injury. Novak Djokovic, whom Alcaraz beat in last year’s US Open semifinals and in the 2026 Australian Open semifinals, has already been eliminated after a first-round stunner.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev and hard-hitting Americans Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz could be in Alcaraz’s way as he tries to become the first repeat US Open men’s champion since Roger Federer ran off the last of his five consecutive titles in 2008.
But Alcaraz, winner of seven Grand Slam titles and the youngest ever to complete the career Grand Slam, didn’t want to predict who his toughest competition might be, saying he isn’t thinking too far ahead.
But he, no doubt, enjoys competing again.
“Of course, when I come to a Grand Slam, I want to compete for the title. That’s always the goal,” he said. “There are so many great players here, so I don’t really want to choose one or two. At a Grand Slam, every match is difficult, and you have to be ready for everybody. Then once the match starts, I just want to compete, enjoy it, and try to win.”