Carlos Alcaraz was nearly unrecognizable when he stepped on the courtroom in opposition to Reilly Opelka for his first-round match the US Open. His typical bushy, mop haircut was changed by an surprising buzz lower because of a pre-game mishap involving his brother.
Donning a purple Nike equipment, Alcaraz dispatched the American 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 earlier than diving into questions regarding his look.
“Fairly completely different I assume,” Alcaraz stated. “I imply, it was simply … I felt like my hair was actually lengthy already. And earlier than the event I stated that I actually needed to get a haircut. Instantly, my brother simply misunderstood with the machine. He simply lower it and the one option to repair it’s simply to shave it off. And it got here, this haircut. To be trustworthy, it is not that good, it is not that unhealthy I assume.”
Victor Martinez, Alcaraz’s typical barber who lives in Spain, was not obtainable to trim his hair.
“New York is simply too distant for Victor. I am probably not into hair in any respect,” Alcaraz stated. “I am the man who thinks like, ‘Okay, hair grows,’ and in a number of days it will be okay I assume. It simply occurred and that is it.”
Alcaraz did not lose a break level and gained 86% of his first service factors in opposition to Opelka. He completed with 23 winners to only 17 unforced errors. Alcaraz stated he “felt quicker” together with his buzz lower earlier than complimenting his opening opponent.
“Opelka is such a tricky opponent, huge serve. He would not allow you to go on rallies,” Alcaraz stated. “It was tough for me to get the great rhythm and the great feeling from the baseline. So I simply tried to return effectively, enjoying as lengthy some extent as I can and attempting to get the great rhythm and the great feeling.
“So it was a tough first spherical, however general I simply actually pleased with the best way that I managed every part that I performed right now. Good return, good level from the baseline, good serve. So I simply needed to maintain it going.
Alcaraz is among the pre-tournament favorites and is gunning for his fifth grand slam. The Spaniard will face 24-year-old Mattia Bellucci within the second spherical for the primary time in his profession.
