Carlos Alcaraz Advances in US Open
In an impressive display, Carlos Alcaraz secured his spot in the third round of the US Open with a straightforward victory over Italy’s Mattia Bellucci on a night filled with excitement at Arthur Ashe Stadium. After an unexpected haircut incident that left him with a buzz cut, Alcaraz, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, dominated the match with a final score of 6-1, 6-0, 6-3, completing the contest in just over 90 minutes.
Match Highlights
Displaying his exceptional form, Alcaraz did not give his opponent a single chance to break serve and led with a remarkable tally of winners, 32 to 11. This contrasts sharply with his previous second-round performance at Flushing Meadows in 2024, where the highly-rated player faced an early exit after experiencing a surprising defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp, despite entering the match on a 15-match winning streak backed by his triumphs at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Player Reflections
Reflecting on his strong showing, Alcaraz remarked,
“I played great, to be honest… Today wasn’t his day. I tried to make the most of his mistakes.”
Currently, he has impressively maintained a perfect serve record throughout the tournament, winning all 27 of his service games over the first two rounds and extending that streak to 32 games since the Cincinnati Open semifinals.
Grand Slam Achievements
This match also marked Alcaraz’s 79th victory in Grand Slam tournaments, achieved during his 19th major appearance. Among male players since the beginning of the Open Era, he ranks just behind legends like John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, and Rafael Nadal for the most wins in their first 19 Grand Slam events. With this solid performance in the early rounds of the US Open, Alcaraz showcases his readiness to contend for another title, having previously secured his first Grand Slam victory at this tournament in 2022.
