On the court, Alcaraz seemed unfazed by the added attention from his haircut. He needed just over two hours to see off the towering, big-serving Opelka in Arthur Ashe Stadium and kick off his pursuit of a sixth grand slam title and second at the US Open.

After impressing in a 6-4 7-5 6-4 victory, Alcaraz quizzed the crowd on his new look, earning loud cheers when he said: "I've got to ask to the people if they like the new haircut or not. Do you like it guys? I think they like it."

There is nothing Carlos Alcaraz can do to make himself look bad. He has proven capable of making any style work on or off the court. Alcaraz is known for being the more lighthearted and playful player compared to the buttoned-up Jannik Sinner, against whom he is constantly compared.