Carlos Alcaraz arrived at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center looking every bit like a man ready to hit reset: the 22-year-old Spaniard showed up for his US Open opener with a freshly shaved head, a new look that instantly became the talk of Day 2 in Queens. He’s the No. 2 seed and begins his campaign tonight against 6-foot-11 American Reilly Opelka, whose cannonball serve is a danger to anyone—even a two-time major champion this season. AP NewsESPN.com
The haircut wasn’t just a style change; it was a statement. On site, Alcaraz told golf star Rory McIlroy he “had to start fresh,” a short, telling line that captured the vibe around his tournament reset after a grind of a summer. Frances Tiafoe jokingly panned the look, but the moment underlined how relaxed and playful Alcaraz remains on the eve of another Slam chase. ATP Tour
If the haircut drew attention, his 2025 resume is what makes him the favorite in almost every match he plays. Alcaraz’s summer crest included his first Cincinnati title—a Big Titles milestone that pushed him further ahead of rival Jannik Sinner in that count—after Sinner retired from the final. It was the eighth Masters 1000 trophy of Alcaraz’s career and the latest marker in a season that already features multiple titles on clay, grass and hard courts. ATP Tour+1
The Sinner-Alcaraz rivalry is the sport’s central storyline, and it could loom again in New York. Alcaraz outlasted Sinner in an epic, five-set Roland-Garros final in June—the longest French Open final on record—only for Sinner to even the summer ledger by beating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final a month later. If both hold serve through the US Open draw, their third straight Slam final meeting would be a blockbuster. For now, that’s conjecture; what’s bankable is the recent form that put Alcaraz here as a prime threat on hard courts. CBS NewsESPN.com
First, Opelka. The 2019 New York quarterfinalist returns from an injury-marred stretch with that skyscraping first delivery and a renewed appetite for night-session chaos. It’s a classic first-round trap: Alcaraz is the better mover, defender, and counterpuncher, but tiebreaks can pile up fast against Opelka if the return games get scarce. That’s why, despite Alcaraz being a heavy favorite with analysts, several previews have warned against looking past the matchup—especially early in a tournament when rhythm is still forming. ESPN.comTennis.com
The stage will be sizable, too. Organizers slated Alcaraz–Opelka for the late window in New York; in Spain it spills past midnight, another reminder that the 2022 champion is already a global primetime draw. The first-round scheduling underscores how much the event leans on his showmanship—elastic defense, disguise on the drop shot, and the ability to flip a point with one forehand change-up. Diario ASThe Independent
Beyond tennis, Alcaraz has drawn attention off the court in the lead-up. A video of him receiving a blessing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral circulated widely in Spain, prompting chatter about athletes’ public expressions of faith. It’s a sideshow, but it shows the degree to which Alcaraz now lives in a spotlight that extends far beyond the baseline. ElHuffPost
Context matters here: last year’s North American swing ended early for Alcaraz, but 2025 has looked more like a coronation tour across surfaces. Cincinnati delivered hardware; Paris delivered history; and Wimbledon—despite the final loss—showed he’s still right there with Sinner, the two of them trading blows at the top of the men’s game. Put simply, he arrives in Queens both sharpened by defeat and buoyed by achievement, the ideal edge for a two-week major. ATP TourCBS NewsESPN.com
Tactically tonight, watch three things. First, Alcaraz’s return position: he often starts deeper against giants to buy reaction time, then creeps forward once he reads patterns; the adjustment window will be decisive against Opelka’s flat bombs. Second, the drop shot: even versus a big man, Alcaraz uses it not as a party trick but as geometry—yanking defenders forward to set up the lob or passing shot. Third, the serve-plus-one: his first-serve spots to the forehand body, followed by a forehand to the open court, are reliable tiebreak currency. Expect a few breakers; expect Alcaraz to stay opportunistic on the handful of 15-30s he sees. (If he converts even one early, the match tilts heavily his way.) ESPN.com
There’s also the human element: the buzz cut symbolizes a clear-minded restart after a relentless calendar. It may be cosmetic, but athletes lean into rituals for a reason. Whether it becomes a footnote or the beginning of a September signature run is up to the tennis. For now, the picture is clear—Alcaraz is seeded second, riding fresh momentum from Cincinnati, carrying the aura of a reigning Roland-Garros champion, and stepping into Ashe under the lights with the city’s energy at full tilt. The haircut made headlines; the forehand and footwork will decide the night. AP NewsATP TourCBS News
How to watch: In the U.S., ESPN holds broadcast rights to the US Open; check local listings and the network’s digital platforms for live coverage and replays. ESPN.com
Order of play note: Alcaraz–Opelka is scheduled for the evening session in New York (late night/early morning in Spain). As ever at Flushing Meadows, weather and earlier match lengths can shift start times, so keep an eye on the tournament’s live schedule. The IndependentDiario AS
Bottom line: New look, same ambition. If Alcaraz handles Opelka’s serve and settles into return patterns early, the No. 2 seed should move forward—and with the form he’s carried this month, that could mean a deep second-week run in Queens.