Decked out with a brand new buzz reduce, the world no 2 was in glowing type in opposition to towering Reilly Opelka of the US.
Carlos Alcaraz is sporting a brand new buzz reduce on the US Open, and whereas the cropped fashion is drawing a blended response on-line, the Spaniard’s spectacular tennis is leaving no room for dialogue as he dismantled Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to achieve the second spherical.
Having ditched his tousled pretournament look, the second seed made a powerful begin on Monday in his quest to safe a second Grand Slam title of the yr.
“I’ve acquired to ask the individuals in the event that they like the brand new haircut or not. Did you prefer it, guys? I believe they prefer it,” Alcaraz mentioned on court docket in response to a query about whether or not he was shifting quicker on court docket along with his new look.
“In the present day was a very troublesome one,” he added.
“He actually is a good and a very robust participant with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm I needed to get within the match, however I’m actually pleased with all the things.
“The return was top-of-the-line issues right this moment. I attempted to play my greatest tennis, tried to be targeted on the serve. General, I had a very nice efficiency right this moment.”
The 22-year-old, who received the primary of his 5 main trophies in New York three years in the past, appeared each bit like championship materials in opposition to the two.11-metre (6 ft 11 inches) Opelka as he broke for a 3-2 lead and clinched the opening set with ease.
Alcaraz wobbled on serve for the primary time within the second set when he despatched down consecutive double faults, however Opelka didn’t convert each his break level alternatives.
After breaking Opelka within the eleventh recreation, Alcaraz held to like for a 2-0 lead and turned up the warmth within the ninth recreation of the third set, breaking once more due to a foot fault and a wayward serve by his opponent.
“Nothing will depend on you. It all the time will depend on him,” Alcaraz mentioned in regards to the issue of taking part in the towering Opelka.
“The best way he serves, the way in which he performs from the baseline, you simply should be targeted, put as many returns as you may in and attempt to be within the rally and win the factors he helps you to win.
“It’s simply troublesome if you play somebody who doesn’t allow you to play your recreation. It was a really troublesome first spherical.”
Alcaraz held to like to finish the victory and arrange a second-round encounter with Italian Mattia Bellucci, who went by means of after his Chinese language opponent, Shang Juncheng, retired throughout their encounter earlier within the day.
