Carlos Alcaraz may have had his hairstyle roasted by Frances Tiafoe, but he found a clever way to hit back at his rival at the US Open.
The Spaniard, sporting a fresh buzzcut that shocked fans when he stepped on court in New York, helped Tiafoe’s next opponent prepare for their second-round clash.
The haircut itself was the result of a mistake at home. Alcaraz explained that his brother mishandled the clippers, leaving him no option but to shave his head completely.
“I felt like my hair was really long already, and before the tournament I just really wanted to get a haircut," he said after his first round win earlier this week.
Carlos Alcaraz had been mocked by Francis Tiafoe after the five-time Grand Slam champion sported a buzz cut for his US Open opener on Monday night
| REUTERS"My brother, he misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it. Then the only way to fix it is just shave it off.
“It’s not that bad, I guess.”
Tiafoe, however, was not impressed. The American described the look as 'terrible' and 'horrendous,' even joking that Alcaraz must be 'more aerodynamic' without his trademark hair.
A known stickler for clean cuts himself, Tiafoe added that he gets his hair done every week and could not understand the decision.
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Alcaraz brushed the comments aside, joking that his friend was lying and secretly liked the style.
The 22-year-old, fresh from a straight-sets win over Reilly Opelka in the first round, then joined forces with Martin Damm Jr, the player set to face Tiafoe next.
The pair practiced together in New York, a lighthearted twist that many fans interpreted as Alcaraz’s playful 'revenge.'
Beyond the laughs, the world No 2 showed once again why he is such a captivating figure.
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Frances Tiafoe on Carlos Alcaraz's new haircut:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025
"It's definitely terrible... that's my guy though." 😭😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/QgMHyqzoGw
His ability to laugh at himself, lean into the jokes, and then turn the tables with a gesture of sportsmanship reflects the mix of competitiveness and charisma that has made him the sport’s brightest young star.
The haircut may have stolen headlines, but his tennis has been just as sharp.
Alcaraz impressed against Opelka by keeping control of the rallies and refusing to let the American’s huge serve drag the match into tiebreaks.
He is now targeting a sixth Grand Slam title as a result.
“Today was a really difficult one,” he said after the win.
“Really tough player, tough serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm that I wanted to get but really happy with everything I’ve done today.”
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Carlos Alcaraz is bidding to win the US Open for the second time following his victory in 2022 | REUTERSAlcaraz is next in action against Mattia Bellucci on Thursday.
It is the first meeting between the pair.