KEY POINTS
- Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Reilly Opelka in straight sets to reach the second round of the US Open
- Fans and fellow players were equally focused on his surprise buzz cut, which sparked mixed reactions
- Alcaraz revealed the haircut was a mistake by his brother, turning a routine trim into a full shave
NEW YORK: Spain’s tennis star Carlos Alcaraz began his US Open campaign with a straight-sets win over American Reilly Opelka, but it wasn’t just his performance that had everyone talking.
Alcaraz, 22, looked sharp on court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, but fans were just as focused on his fresh buzz cut, a drastic new look that left many curious.
During his post-match interview, the always-smiling Alcaraz turned to the crowd with a grin.
“I’ve got to ask… do you like the haircut?” he said, sparking loud cheers and laughter from the stands. “I think they like it,” he laughed, clearly enjoying the moment.
But while fans seemed amused, not everyone was a fan.
Fellow player – and friend – Frances Tiafoe had a more brutally honest take: “It’s definitely terrible,” he joked.
“He’s my guy, though. I saw him and thought, ‘Well, at least now he’s aerodynamic.’”
Alcaraz didn’t let that slide. “Frances is lying,” he fired back playfully. “He told me he liked it! Now he’s saying it’s terrible? Come on, I know he likes the haircut.”
So, what’s the real story behind the buzz cut?
It turns out, it was a haircut gone wrong – thanks to his brother.
“My hair was getting long, and I just wanted a trim before the tournament,” Alcaraz explained.
“But my brother… he misunderstood the machine. He cut way too much. So the only way to fix it? Shave it all off!”
While the haircut may have been accidental, there was nothing unintentional about Alcaraz’s performance on the court.
The young champion is through to the second round and bringing both his powerful game and new look along for the ride.
