Carlos Alcaraz created a buzz ahead of his opening match at the US Open against American rival Reilly Opelka. The Spaniard was spotted in a bold, shaved head, prior to his match.
The 22 year old stormed to a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 straight-sets victory over Opelka in a 2-hour, 5-minute match. He didn’t drop serve once and committed just nine unforced errors, in contrast to Opelka’s 23.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Reilly Opelka
The opening set was tight as both players locked at 2-2 But on the sixth break point, Alcaraz finally broke through. A strong forehand forced Opelka to make an error, giving Alcaraz a 3-2 lead.
The American responded with some powerful serving, including a smash that Alcaraz couldn’t reach. This brought the score to 4-2. He then pushed hard to close the gap and managed to make it 4-3.
Carlos Alcaraz used his forehand strength to finish the first set 6-4. Opelka’s unforced errors from the baseline made the difference, helping Alcaraz move ahead.
The second set was much closer. Opelka held his serve strongly, and the match stayed neck-and-neck. But in the 11th game, Alcaraz broke Opelka’s serve at a crucial moment.
That break proved enough for Alcaraz to win the second set 7-5.
However, it was Alcaraz’ new look that stole the show. The world No. 2 opted for a striking buzz cut that immediately became a talking point.
Why the new hairstyle?
Alcaraz revealed that he had been struggling with his previous haircut and simply wanted a fresh start-both in appearance and mentality-heading into the final Slam of the season. A video of the haircut transformation has since gone viral, adding to the off-court hype surrounding the 22-year-old.
Carlos Alcaraz 🥎🗣️:
"Just got a haircut that I struggled with" 📸 pic.twitter.com/FTrKKKw3Z3
— Alcaraz Updates🐝 (@alcarazzupdates) August 25, 2025
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This was Alcaraz’s first career encounter with Opelka, and he handled the American’s heavy serve with precision and tactical awareness.
Alcaraz, who won his first Grand Slam at the US Open in 2022, is now seeking his second title in New York. With six singles titles already this season and a 54-6 win-loss record, the Spaniard arrives in Flushing Meadows as one of the clear favorites-especially after his Roland Garros triumph and strong showing at Wimbledon. If things fall in place, he might well reclaim his number one spot in the world rankings.
The Catalan will face Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in the second round as he continues his pursuit of his sixth Grand Slam title.
