US Open: Buzz cut Alcaraz powers himself into 2nd round with straight sets win

Carlos Alcaraz debuted a fresh buzz cut at the US Open on Monday, drawing mixed reactions from fans online. But any debate over his new look quickly faded under the weight of his performance, as the world No. 2 dispatched American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to move into the second round.

Having shed his signature tousled hair, Alcaraz looked sharp in more ways than one. The 22-year-old began his campaign for a second Grand Slam title this year with a commanding display, overcoming the towering Opelka's blistering serve and difficult baseline game.

“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 in his on-court interview. “Today was a really difficult one. He’s a great and really tough player with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm I wanted, but I’m really happy with everything.”

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Confident Alcaraz Stamps His Authority

Alcaraz broke early in the first set for a 3-2 lead and never looked back, closing it out with confidence. In the second, he showed brief vulnerability with a pair of double faults, but Opelka was unable to capitalise on two break point chances. Alcaraz recovered quickly, broke in the 11th game, and held to love to take a two-set lead.

The Spaniard turned up the pressure in the third set, earning a decisive break in the ninth game after a combination of a foot fault and an errant serve from Opelka. He then closed the match with a love hold, sealing a composed and clinical first-round win.

“Nothing depends on you. It always depends on him,” Alcaraz said of the challenge posed by Opelka. “The way he serves, the way he plays from the baseline—you just have to be focused, put as many returns in as you can, and try to win the points he lets you win.”

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Alcaraz, who claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, will now face Italian Mattia Bellucci in the second round. Bellucci advanced after China’s Shang Juncheng retired during their opening-round clash earlier in the day.