Alcaraz Opens US Open with Opelka Win, Golf Tribute to McIlroy as Wong and Fonseca Make History

Posted : 26 August 2025

Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets win over American big-server Reilly Opelka, marking the occasion with a playful golf swing celebration. The 22-year-old, sporting a new haircut, sealed a 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory by breaking Opelka once in each set and avoiding tie-breaks against one of the ATP Tour’s hardest hitters.

The celebration was inspired by Alcaraz’s admiration for Masters champion Rory McIlroy, whom he met for the first time earlier in the day at Flushing Meadows. “It was an unbelievable experience meeting him,” said the 2022 US Open champion. “I was cheering for him at the Masters after I won Monte Carlo. To finally talk with him was such an honour.” Alcaraz, who has never lost a first-round match in 19 Grand Slam appearances, now faces Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in round two.

Elsewhere, Coleman Wong made history by becoming the first male player from Hong Kong to win a Grand Slam singles match in the Open era. The 21-year-old qualifier defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(4) and received a congratulatory message from Rafael Nadal, whose academy Wong joined in Mallorca at age 17. “I’m still soaking it in,” Wong said. “It means a lot to me, my family, and Hong Kong.” Wong will next face Australia’s Adam Walton.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca also enjoyed a breakthrough, defeating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 despite battling illness in the third set. The 19-year-old, forced to take a medical timeout before vomiting courtside, apologised to the crowd but pushed through to secure the win. Fonseca will meet world number 21 Tomas Machac in round two.

Other notable results included Frances Tiafoe defeating Yoshihito Nishioka, Holger Rune edging past Botic van de Zandschulp in three tie-break sets, and Russian seeds Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev advancing with strong performances. Italian Flavio Cobolli won an all-Italian five-set thriller against Francesco Passaro, while Norway’s Casper Ruud cruised past Sebastian Ofner.

British number one Jack Draper also returned to Flushing Meadows with a four-set win over Federico Agustin Gomez. Draper, a semi-finalist last year, said he was “almost happy” to drop a set as it gave him valuable match time after recovering from an arm injury. “I needed tennis in my legs,” the 23-year-old explained. “I wasn’t sure if I’d even make it here, so I’m just happy to be competing.” Fellow Briton Cameron Norrie also progressed after Sebastian Korda retired injured.

Alcaraz Opens US Open with Opelka Win, Golf Tribute to McIlroy as Wong and Fonseca Make History

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics