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 Nike line essentially serving as his uniform. The Spaniard wore a full Cactus x Nike set in brown and white, Scott’s signature colors, and not just Alcaraz’s shirt and shoes, but all the way to his socks and headband.

The flowing locks, so different from his usual fade or buzz cut, drew thumbs up just like his play.

“I was with him [last week]. I think the long hair is fire. I like it,” said American Frances Tiafoe, adding of the cornrows, “I asked him if he was going to do it. He said, no, the upkeep is too hard. But he had a do-rag. I was, like, ‘Come on, champ.’

“That was awesome. That was awesome. I like him with long hair. He said he’s going to keep the long hair.”

Alcaraz is on the opposite side of the draw from Tiafoe and would have to reach the semis to face him. That doesn’t sound crazy after Monday’s performance, avoiding the kind of injury-induced pratfall that eliminated Novak Djokovic in the first round and sidelined Jannik Sinner altogether.

Presumably, Alcaraz doesn’t plan to change too much, other than growing into the tourney and perhaps unleashing more of his 135 mph serve. Taking something off his fastball was more of a tactical choice vs. the aggressive-returning Safiullin than a case of being limited.

The fact Alcaraz leaned into his forehand is a good sign. It’s the shot most reliant on his wrist, and the fact he was actively looking for it after dealing with his painful tenosynovitis bodes well.

Alcaraz hit 28 winners — 20 on his forehand — for his 15th straight match victory at majors. He’ll face Portugal’s Jaime Faria next in the second round.

“What I just really want to do is enjoy every time that I’m gonna walk into the court feeling the energy from the people, feel the competition,” Alcaraz said. “Walking up, I’m thinking, all right, it’s matchday. That’s what I’m gonna do this tournament.”