Alcaraz Advances to Second Round at U.S. Open

Carlos Alcaraz debuted a new haircut that sparked varied reactions online; however, his display on the court left little to question.

The Spanish tennis star progressed to the U.S. Open’s second round after defeating American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.

The world’s second-ranked player is vying for his second Grand Slam title this year and the sixth in his burgeoning career. At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has become known as a dynamic player on the tour, blending natural athleticism with growing composure during critical moments.

Alcaraz quickly found his rhythm, breaking Opelka’s serve in the initial set to take a 3-2 advantage and maintain command, despite Opelka’s powerful serves. During the second set, the Spaniard encountered some difficulty, committing two double faults; however, Opelka could not take advantage of these opportunities.

Assisted by a foot fault and unforced errors from Opelka, Alcaraz clinched significant breaks late in the second set and again in the third before securing the victory by confidently holding serve.

Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz recognized the challenge presented by Opelka’s powerful serves and highlighted the importance of his mentality.

“Today was a real challenge. He’s a formidable player with a very difficult serve. I struggled to find my desired rhythm, but I am pleased with how I managed everything,” he stated.

“My return game was a highlight today. I aimed to perform at my peak, remain focused on my service, and overall, I believe it was a strong performance.”

Alcaraz is scheduled to compete against Italian Mattia Bellucci in the second round on Tuesday.