Overview

• Alcaraz defeated Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium in 2 hours 5 minutes to reach the second round.
• His plan emphasized aggressive returning to blunt Opelka’s serve, converting key late breaks in the second and third sets.
• On court after the match, he asked the crowd if they liked the new haircut and received a loud ovation.
• He explained that the shaved head was unintentional, blaming an at-home trim that went wrong when his brother used the clippers.
• Frances Tiafoe jokingly called the cut “horrible” as the look went viral across the tournament, and Alcaraz next faces Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.