Carlos Alcaraz showed up at the US Open with a brand-new buzz cut — and while fans online are divided over his look, his tennis left no room for debate. The Spanish star brushed aside Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 on Monday to book a spot in the second round.
The world No. 2 admitted the fresh trim has already become a topic of conversation.
“I’ve got to ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Did you like it, guys? I think they like it,” Alcaraz joked on court.
But once play started, all attention shifted to his game. “Today was a really difficult one,” he said of Opelka. “He really is a great and a really tough player with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm I wanted to get in the match, but I’m really happy with everything. The return was one of the best things today.”
Opelka, standing at 6 feet 11 inches (2.11m), unleashed his trademark booming serve, but Alcaraz absorbed the pressure, breaking early in the first set for a 3-2 lead and cruising from there.
The second set tested him more: a pair of double faults left him vulnerable, but Opelka failed to take advantage. Alcaraz seized the crucial break in the 11th game and served it out to love.
By the third set, the Spaniard was in full control, breaking again after a foot fault call rattled Opelka.
“Nothing depends on you. It always depends on him,” Alcaraz explained of facing such a towering opponent. “You just have to be focused, put as many returns as you can in and try to be in the rally.”
Alcaraz, who lifted his first major trophy at Flushing Meadows three years ago, sealed victory in just under two and a half hours. He now faces Italian Mattia Bellucci in round two, after Bellucci advanced when China’s Shang Juncheng retired mid-match.
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