Carlos Alcaraz shows fresh form in Flushing Meadows win
Carlos Alcaraz’s haircut, rather than just his tennis, sparked conversations at the US Open as the second seed eased into round two in New York. The Spaniard arrived at Flushing Meadows looking almost unrecognisable after shaving his head, but his 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Reilly Opelka quickly reminded fans that his game remains as sharp as ever. Afterward, Alcaraz playfully asked the crowd if they approved of his new look, receiving loud cheers in response.
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The Story Behind the Haircut
Not everyone was impressed by the style. American star Frances Tiafoe, both a friend and rival of Alcaraz, jokingly described the cut as “terrible,” though he affectionately teased that the streamlined look might make his Spanish counterpart more aerodynamic. Alcaraz later explained that the haircut was the result of a simple mistake. He said his brother had mishandled the clippers, leaving shaving it all off as the only option. “It’s not that bad, I guess,” he admitted with a smile.
Performance on Court
While his hairstyle drew mixed reviews, his tennis was widely praised. Alcaraz maintained his record of never losing in the opening round of a Grand Slam, taking advantage of rare opportunities against Opelka’s huge serve to avoid tie-breaks. His composed performance sets up a second-round clash with Italian Mattia Bellucci. After sealing victory, Alcaraz even mimicked a golf swing in tribute to Rory McIlroy, who was watching from the stands. He described Opelka as a tough opponent and admitted the match was physically challenging, but he was satisfied with his overall display.
Jack Draper’s Hard-Fought Return
Elsewhere, Britain’s Jack Draper battled through his first match in over seven weeks following a left arm injury. Despite struggling at times, he defeated Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7-9), 6-2 in a contest lasting more than three hours. Draper acknowledged his rustiness but credited his team for getting him fit enough to compete. He now faces Belgian Zizou Bergs in round two.
Teenage Breakthrough for Fonseca
Nineteen-year-old Joao Fonseca continued his breakout season by defeating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to claim his first US Open main-draw win. Despite dealing with dizziness and illness during the match, the Brazilian teenager showed resilience and thrilled the crowd. He expressed his excitement at experiencing his debut year across all the majors and said he was embracing the pressure that comes with being a rising star.
Norrie Progresses as Korda Retires
British number two Cameron Norrie also advanced after opponent Sebastian Korda retired due to a back injury. Korda had begun to struggle physically in the second set and decided to withdraw with Norrie leading 7-5, 6-4. Norrie, who missed last year’s tournament due to injury himself, was empathetic toward Korda but welcomed the chance to continue building momentum after his strong Wimbledon run. The early finish even gave him the opportunity to catch Newcastle’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.
