Carlos Alcaraz's dramatic new buzz cut became the talk of the US Open after the world number two revealed his brother's clipper mishap forced him to shave off all his hair. The 22-year-old Spaniard wanted a quick trim before the tournament but his brother "misunderstood with the machine" and cut too much off.
"The only way to fix it was just to shave it off," Alcaraz told reporters after his first-round victory. "To be honest, it's not that bad, I guess."
The new look didn't affect his tennis as Alcaraz dismantled American Reilly Opelka 6-4 7-5 6-4 to cruise into the second round. He will face Italian Mattia Bellucci next as he aims to reclaim the US Open title he won in 2022.
Mixed reactions to new style
The dramatic transformation divided opinion among players and fans. American Frances Tiafoe, despite sporting a close-cropped style himself, described Alcaraz's haircut as "horrendous" and "terrible".
"Frances is lying," Alcaraz laughed in response. "He showed up here saying that it is terrible? I know he's lying. I know he likes the haircut."
The crowd at Flushing Meadows gave their approval when Alcaraz asked for their opinion, responding with positive cheers. Some people like it, some people don't, the French Open champion acknowledged.
Celebrity endorsement and quick regrowth
According to the Daily Mail, golf star Rory McIlroy gave his approval during a warm-up conversation, leading Alcaraz to perform a golf swing celebration during his match. The Independent reports this was specifically as a tribute to watching McIlroy play.
Alcaraz said the streamlined style might not last long anyway. "Every time that I get a haircut, in two or three days it's gone," he explained. "In three days you're going to see another hairstyle."
The buzz cut marked a departure from his usual style - he had previously flown his regular barber Victor Martinez from Spain to Paris for a fashionable fade during the French Open. However, New York proved too far for a similar intervention.
Sources used: "Metro", "Independent", "Evening Standard", "Mirror", "GB News", "Daily Mail"
Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
