NEW YORK — Carlos Alcaraz made quite the entrance at the U.S. Open on Monday, debuting a fresh, shaved look.
As the No. 2 seed at Flushing Meadows, Alcaraz sparked intrigue with his buzz cut while heading to the court. He went on to dominate against towering opponent Reilly Opelka, securing a convincing 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory in just over two hours at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 22-year-old Spaniard displayed his exceptional talent, committing only 17 unforced errors and successfully winning 50 of 58 first-serve points. He saved all three break points Opelka posed and broke his serve three times, enhancing his flawless record to 19-0 in first-round matches at Grand Slams.
Before the match, Alcaraz had a light-hearted interaction with golf champion Rory McIlroy, who couldn’t resist giving his freshly shaved head a playful rub. Just a week ago, during the mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open, Alcaraz sported a full mane!
During the post-match interview, Alcaraz engagingly sought the audience’s thoughts on his new haircut.
“I need to know if you like the new look or not. What do you think, guys?” he asked the cheering crowd at Ashe.
They responded with enthusiastic applause.
“I guess,” Alcaraz chuckled, “they like it.”
However, not everyone was a fan of the new style. Close friend and fellow athlete Frances Tiafoe, who faced Alcaraz in the semifinals last year, shared his candid assessment. That was also the year Alcaraz clinched his first U.S. Open title and his fifth Grand Slam overall.
“It’s awful. It’s really bad—definitely bad. But he’s my guy,” Tiafoe said with a grin when asked about Alcaraz’s haircut. “I looked at him and thought, ‘Well, I guess you’re now aerodynamic.’”
Tiafoe didn’t hold back on his critique.
“I don’t know who advised him to go for that, but it’s just not good. Coming from someone who prides himself on keeping a fresh cut weekly, it’s horrible,” Tiafoe said, laughing. “But at the end of the day, it’s Carlos, and that’s what matters.”
