The US Open continues to serve up intriguing contrasts, and today brings us a particularly eye-catching one: the towering American Reilly Opelka against Spain’s young phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz. A match-up of raw power against explosive athleticism, where the question is less about who has the better all-around game and more about whether Opelka can make his biggest weapon count often enough to tilt the balance.
Reilly Opelka’s tennis has always revolved around one thing: his serve. When it’s firing, he can be almost untouchable, piling up aces and forcing opponents into tiebreaks where just a single loose point can decide the set. In New York, with the crowd behind him and the conditions playing quick, his ability to lean on that serve will be at its peak.
Carlos Alcaraz, by contrast, is about variety and relentlessness. He’s already shown a maturity beyond his years, blending raw power from the baseline with quick feet and a willingness to improvise in rallies. Where Opelka seeks to shorten points, Alcaraz thrives in extending them, testing opponents’ movement and stamina until the cracks appear.
The clash of styles here is clear: Opelka wants to avoid rallies at all costs, Alcaraz wants to create them. Much will hinge on how often Alcaraz can make Opelka play those extra shots after the serve, and how patient he is prepared to be in the moments when Opelka strings together a run of untouchable deliveries.
Realistically, it is hard to imagine Alcaraz being swept away. His return game is too sharp, and over the course of a best-of-five he will find enough openings. But equally, Opelka’s serve is too good for him not to leave a mark on the match. A tiebreak or two feels almost inevitable, and it would not be surprising if Opelka managed to steal a set in front of the home crowd.
What we are left with, then, is the expectation of a long and fascinating contest: the Spaniard’s creativity and endurance slowly grinding down the American’s firepower. Alcaraz should emerge the winner, but not without being tested – and the path to victory will likely be one of patience, persistence, and plenty of games on the scoreboard.
