Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the second round of the US Open with a dominant straight-sets victory over American Reilly Opelka on Monday, while veteran Venus Williams made an emotional exit after losing to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Alcaraz, sporting a buzz cut that has sparked social media buzz, defeated Opelka 6-4 7-5 6-4 under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, setting a second-round match against Italian Mattia Bellucci.
Williams, returning to Flushing Meadows at 45 after a year off, fought valiantly against Muchova, pushing to a deciding set before exiting 6-3 2-6 6-1.
“I’m very proud of how I played,” said Williams, who lost 6-1 6-1 in her last US Open appearance in 2023.
“For me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthily,” added Williams, who revealed in 2011 that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease causing fatigue and joint pain.
“When you’re not healthy, it’s in your mind. It affects how you feel and think. So it was nice to be freer.”
Teen talent Mirra Andreeva dominated Alycia Parks 6-0 6-1 with an impressive performance at Louis Armstrong Stadium, while Madison Keys’ error-filled game led to an upset by Renata Zarazua 6-7(10) 7-6(3) 7-5 in the first match on Arthur Ashe.
At number six, Keys is the highest seed to fall so far.
Zarazua, the sole Mexican in the main draw, saved seven break points in a grueling three-hour match for her first win over a top-10 player.
“I was really nervous coming into the match, but the crowd helped me relax,” she said. “Hearing Mexican fans cheering was very nice.”
She aims to continue her success against Frenchwoman Diane Parry, who easily defeated two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-1 6-0 in her final professional match.
Barbora Krejcikova, a two-time major winner, overcame injuries to beat Victoria Mboko 6-3 6-2, just weeks after the Canadian teenager’s breakthrough in Montreal.
Krejcikova will face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima next.
Men’s 17th seed Frances Tiafoe thrilled home fans after Keys’ exit, defeating Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3 7-6(6) 6-3, ending the afternoon with his 19th ace.
The twice semifinalist, set to play US qualifier Martin Damm next, joins fourth seed Taylor Fritz and sixth seed Ben Shelton in the second round, all aiming to be the first American man to win the US Open in 22 years.
Jack Draper, a semifinalist last year, beat Argentine qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4 7-5 6-7(7) 6-2 and will play Belgian Zizou Bergs next.
British fifth seed Cameron Norrie advanced after American Sebastian Korda retired, trailing 7-5 6-4, and will face Argentinian Francisco Comesana next.
Joao Fonseca thrilled the Grandstand crowd as the 19-year-old Brazilian favorite continued his dream 2025 season with a 7-6(3) 7-6(5) 6-3 win over Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, setting up a match with 21st seed Tomas Machac.
Norwegian former finalist Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, defeated Austrian Sebastian Ofner 6-1 6-2 7-6(5), while Danish 11th seed Holger Rune overcame Dutchman Botic van De Zandschulp 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(2).
