Young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has had the media buzzing, and not just because of his phenomenal play on the court. He further raises eyebrows with his shock of a haircut. Prior to the US Open, Alcaraz typically turns to his go-to barber, Victor Martínez, for some fresh cuts. When Martínez was not available, he decided to have one of his brothers cut his hair instead. The announcement in itself elicited a flood of backlash from fans and other players alike. Frances Tiafoe even had the audacity to define the new style as horrendous.
Alcaraz’s typical practice is to fly Martínez out to tournaments to cut his hair there. He chose not to this time due to the extensive flight between Spain and New York. Instead, he decided to go all-in on the idea, or let his brother-in-law do it.
“Every time that I get a haircut, in two or three days it’s gone,” Alcaraz remarked, shedding light on his rather casual approach to hairstyling. He acknowledged the varied opinions about his new look, stating, “Some people like it, some people don’t like it.”
“To be honest, I’m just laughing about the reaction of the people. It is what it is. I can’t do anything else right now, so I’m just laughing about everything they are saying about my haircut,” he added.
On a happier note, golfer Rory McIlroy ran into Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows and twigged the kid’s haircut and needling. So I fuck with it. This shit tight. This a dope ass appearance,” he said.
Alcaraz has a new racket to help him prepare for his next match. He will play world No. 65 Mattia Bellucci on Thursday. The 20-year-old Spaniard is a formidable competitor, boasting five Grand Slam titles, including his victory at the 2022 US Open. He has spoken about the difficulty of having to return Reilly Opelka’s valve-shattering 145 mph serves.
Alcaraz’s ability to balance on-court performance with off-court commentary shows his maturity as both an athlete and a public figure. As he prepares for his upcoming match, fans will be watching not only for his skills on the court but to see if he follows through on his playful promise: “In three days you’re going to see another hairstyle.”