Alcaraz beats Opelka in straight sets to enter US Open second round

Carlos Alcaraz began his quest for a second US Open title with confidence as he defeated American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium today. The Spanish superstar, who had arrived in New York with a new haircut, showcased his focus and accuracy as he dug deep to test the American in the match against one of the best servers on the ATP Tour.

In the first set, the world number two performed flawlessly, holding his 20 service points and taking a first-serve miss just three times. Though he had a sharp serve, Opelka did not have much opportunity to disrupt the two-time Grand Slam champion in that set.

The American raised his level in the next two sets and created three break-point opportunities, but Alcaraz's resilience and timely shot-making ensured he missed none. A crucial passing shot at 4-4 in the third set paved the way for the decisive break that all but sealed Opelka's fate.

The straight-sets win meant Alcaraz took his unblemished record in the first round of a Grand Slam to 19-0. Barring a shock second-round loss to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp at last year's US Open, Alcaraz has reached at least the quarterfinals of every consecutive major tournament since lifting the trophy in New York in 2022.

The 22-year-old has further cemented his position as the most-winning player on the Tour this season. He now has the most wins on Tour with 55 and six titles in 2025, including hard-court titles in Rotterdam and Cincinnati. Riding a seven-match winning streak following his victory in Cincinnati earlier this month, Alcaraz will next face Italy's Mattia Bellucci in the second round.