Carlos Alcaraz, ranked second in the world, kicked off his US Open journey with a solid win. He faced American Reilly Opelka on Monday night. The young Spaniard moved past Opelka in straight sets. This victory sends him into the second round of the tournament.
Dominant Opening Match
The match began with both players trading blows. Opelka, 27 and ranked 67th, brought serious power. He stands 2.11 meters tall, roughly 7 feet. His serve often flew past 230 kilometers per hour, around 143 miles per hour. But Alcaraz, from Murcia, found a way to break Opelka’s serve. He then held his own to take the first set, 6-4.
Opelka kept up the pressure, relying on his massive serve. The second set stayed tight for a long time. Neither player could get a clear advantage. Then Alcaraz turned it up a notch. He won the last two games of the set. This helped him grab the second set, 7-5. The third set felt a lot like the previous two. Alcaraz stayed focused and kept pushing. He managed to close out the set, 6-4. It was a strong performance to begin his run in the season’s last major.
Looking Ahead
Alcaraz, who is 22, will now prepare for his next challenge. He is set to play Italian Mattia Bellucci in the second round. Bellucci ranks 65th globally. He moved on after his opponent, China’s Shang Juncheng, had to retire. Bellucci was ahead 7-6 (7-0), 1-6, 6-3, 3-0 at that point.
A Season to Remember
This year has been huge for Alcaraz. He has already won six titles, including three Masters 1000 events. His most recent Masters win was in Cincinnati. Jannik Sinner pulled out of that final due to illness. So far this season, Alcaraz boasts 54 wins against just six losses. He has also lifted five Grand Slam trophies already. These include the US Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and Roland Garros in 2024 and 2025.
Speaking of Sinner, he is the world’s number one. He turned 24 this month. Sinner aims to defend his title here in Flushing Meadows. He also hopes to win his third tournament of the year. Keeping his top ranking is a big goal for him.
The New Guard’s Reign
Alcaraz and Sinner have truly dominated the Grand Slams lately. They’ve won the last seven majors combined. Together, they’ve claimed eight of the last 11 major titles. Serbian star Novak Djokovic is the only other player to win a Grand Slam during this stretch. He won Wimbledon in 2022 and then the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open in 2023. This hot streak comes after Rafael Nadal’s last win in Paris back in 2022.
The 139th edition of the US Open is currently underway. It takes place in Flushing Meadows, New York. The tournament runs until September 8.