Decked out with a brand new buzz reduce, the world no 2 was in glowing type towards 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 formidable begin on Monday in his quest to safe a second Grand Slam title of the 12 months.
“I’ve received 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 stated on courtroom in response to a query about whether or not he was transferring quicker on courtroom together with his new look.
“As we speak was a extremely troublesome one,” he added.
“He actually is a superb and a extremely robust participant with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm I wished to get within the match, however I’m actually proud of every part.
“The return was the most effective issues at the moment. I attempted to play my finest tennis, tried to be centered on the serve. Total, I had a extremely nice efficiency at the 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 towards the two.11-metre (6 toes 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 sport, Alcaraz held to like for a 2-0 lead and turned up the warmth within the ninth sport of the third set, breaking once more because of a foot fault and a wayward serve by his opponent.
“Nothing depends upon you. It all the time depends upon him,” Alcaraz stated in regards to the problem of taking part in the towering Opelka.
“The way in which he serves, the way in which he performs from the baseline, you simply need to be centered, put as many returns as you’ll be able to in and attempt to be within the rally and win the factors he helps you to win.
“It’s simply troublesome while you play somebody who doesn’t allow you to play your sport. 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.
