Carlos Alcaraz showed once again why he’s one of the most consistent performers on the biggest stages, cruising past American giant Reilly Opelka in straight sets — 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 — under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night.
The victory not only sent the No. 2 seed into the second round of the US Open 2025, but also cemented a remarkable milestone: Alcaraz is now 19-0 in first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments, joining legends Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal as the only men in the Open Era to achieve such a feat.
Alcaraz’s First-Round Perfection at Grand Slams
Since making his major debut in 2021, the Spaniard has never faltered in an opening-round match. From his first win against Botic van de Zandschulp at the 2021 Australian Open to Monday’s triumph over Opelka, Alcaraz has maintained a flawless streak across Melbourne, Paris, London, and New York.
Match Recap: Opelka’s Power vs. Alcaraz’s Precision
Sporting a fresh haircut and sharper-than-ever focus, Alcaraz quickly took control of the match. He broke Opelka’s thunderous serve in the fifth game of the first set and never looked back, pocketing the opener 6-4.
The second set brought some drama, with Opelka pressuring Alcaraz at 15-40 midway through, but the Spaniard responded with resilience. At 5-all, Alcaraz capitalized on a crucial break at love before sealing the two-set advantage.
In the third set, Opelka blinked at the worst possible time, double-faulting at 4-all. Alcaraz pounced, breaking once more and finishing with authority — striking his 23rd winner, a blistering forehand, to wrap up the match in style.
What’s Next for Alcaraz?
The world No. 2 now advances to face Italian Mattia Bellucci, ranked 65, who has reached the US Open second round for the second consecutive year. The pair last met in an ITF clay event back in 2020 as teenagers, with Alcaraz winning comfortably 6-2, 6-1.
After suffering a surprising early exit in last year’s US Open, Alcaraz is on a mission to reclaim his dominance in New York — and with every win, he inches closer to top-ranked Jannik Sinner.
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