Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis may have been sharp on Monday night, but it was his dramatic new haircut that stole the headlines at Flushing Meadows.
The world No 2 breezed into the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets victory over Reilly Opelka, winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
Yet much of the conversation in the stands and online centred not on his performance, but on the sight of the Spaniard’s newly shaved head.
Alcaraz, normally recognised for his thick dark hair, arrived on court almost unrecognisable.
Carlos Alcaraz’s tennis may have been sharp on Monday night, but it was his dramatic new haircut that stole the headlines at Flushing Meadows
|REUTERS
After securing the win, he playfully asked the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd for their verdict.
“I’ve got to ask the people if they like the new haircut or not,” Alcaraz grinned, raising his arms as the cheers rolled back.
“Do you like it guys? I think they like it.”
Not everyone was convinced, however. Frances Tiafoe, his good friend and regular rival on the ATP Tour, offered a more brutal assessment when asked backstage.
“It’s definitely terrible,” joked Tiafoe. “He’s my guy though.
"It’s funny - I looked at him and was like, ‘I guess you’re aerodynamic.’ I don’t know who told him it was a good idea, but it’s terrible.”
The truth behind the transformation was a little less intentional.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Alcaraz revealed that a simple haircut at home had gone wrong.
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Carlos out here doing Carlos things!! pic.twitter.com/w9IeFLqfTT
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 26, 2025
“I felt like my hair was really long already, and before the tournament I just really wanted to get a haircut,” he explained.
“My brother misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it. Then the only way to fix it was just shave it off. It’s not that bad, I guess.”
If his hairstyle divided opinion, his tennis did not.
The 21-year-old took advantage of rare openings on Opelka’s booming serve, staying composed in key moments to avoid the threat of tiebreaks.
The victory continues his flawless record of never losing in the opening round of a Grand Slam.
The Spaniard also added a touch of humour to his evening, mimicking a golf swing with his racket to acknowledge Rory McIlroy, who was in the crowd.
“Today was a really difficult one,” Alcaraz said.
“Really tough player, tough serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm that I wanted, but really happy with everything I’ve done today.
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|REUTERS
"Overall I think it was a really great performance tonight.”
Alcaraz now moves on to face Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in round two, with fans still debating whether his biggest statement in New York so far has been his ruthless baseline game — or his unexpected new look.