New York, Aug 26 (IANS) – Carlos Alcaraz began his US Open campaign in style, defeating big-serving American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows. The Spaniard, chasing his second US Open crown and sixth Grand Slam title overall, remains firmly in the hunt for the World No. 1 ranking. If he matches or outperforms Jannik Sinner’s result in New York, Alcaraz will reclaim the top spot in the ATP Rankings.
Alcaraz, who leads the ATP Tour with 55 match wins and six titles this season, is fresh off his maiden Cincinnati Open triumph. In the second round, he will meet Mattia Bellucci, hoping to avoid a repeat of his shock second-round exit last year against Botic van de Zandschulp.
Meanwhile, Casper Ruud eased past Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(5) in Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Norwegian, who finished runner-up to Alcaraz at the 2022 US Open, secured just his ninth hard-court Grand Slam victory since that memorable run.
Ruud will face Belgium’s Raphael Collignon next, after the latter dismissed Colombian lucky loser Daniel Elahi Galan in straight sets. Should Ruud reach the US Open final again, he would become the first player since Martina Navratilova in 1983 to make both the singles and mixed doubles finals at the same edition. Ruud and Iga Swiatek were runners-up in this year’s mixed doubles final, losing to Andrea Vavassori and Sara Errani.
Elsewhere, Britain’s Jack Draper, a semifinalist last year where he fell to Sinner, returned to winning ways with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(7), 6-2 victory over Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez.
