Carlos Alcaraz defeated Lloyd Harris 6–3, 6–1, 7–6 in the first round of the 2023 US Open on hard court, confirming his status as the overwhelming pre-match favourite with odds of 1.02. The Spanish top seed controlled the match throughout, taking the first two sets with relative ease before Harris mounted a minor challenge in the third, forcing a tie-break that Alcaraz ultimately secured. The dominant performance underscored Alcaraz's credentials as a leading contender for the title, with the South African unable to sustain meaningful pressure against the world number one's baseline authority and serve. Alcaraz's progression to the second round reinforced his trajectory as the tournament favourite heading deeper into Flushing Meadows.