Carlos Alcaraz kicks off US Open campaign on a high note

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Carlos Alcaraz opened his US Open campaign with a resounding win over the big-serving American Reilly Opelka, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, on Aug. 26, 2025, at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Despite conceding 14 service aces, the more experienced five-time Grand Slam winner made it up by exposing Opelka’s baseline weaknesses, especially during the third and final set.

After taking care of business in sets 1 & 2, Alcaraz finally cracked Opelka’s code and targeted his backhand side to force a ton of unforced errors.

Alcaraz executed the same sequence consecutive times, starting off with a simple return volley and back-to-back top-spin hits that landed straight to Opelka’s backhand baseline.

By the time that the 22-year-old stalwart broke the 4-all deadlock with a service break point, Opelka faded into the match and surrendered several passing shot points that Alcaraz hit with ease.

From throwing consistent forehand attacks in the first two sets, Opelka suddenly went flat and ended his first match in New York in an anticlimactic way.

Credit to Alcaraz’s quick decision making as he kept Opelka guessing with a more varied offensive point of attack in the third, including his signature serve-and-volley technique that was efficient in the final two game sets.

“I think the return was one of the best things I did today and then I just tried to pay my best tennis, be focused on the serve,” Alcaraz said during his post-game interview.

Alcaraz wrapped up the first-round win with 107 points won, 40 receiving points won, three break points, and four service aces.

“It always depends on him and the way he serves, the way he plays from the baseline,” Alcaraz added.

“You just have to be focused, put as many returns in as you can, try to be in the rally and try to win the points.”

Alcaraz will now shift his focus to Mattia Belluci of Italy in the next round, who dispatched Shang Juncheng in four thrilling sets to march to the second phase of elimination.