Carlos Alcaraz arrived on the U.S. Open on Monday with a brand new hairdo.
Really, he arrived at Flushing Meadows with no hairdo — as in no hair in any respect, except for some teeny, tiny specks on his head that come to a widow’s peak.
The world’s No. 2-ranked participant was requested about his surprising new look following his 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Opelka. Alcaraz instructed reporters that he had merely wished a haircut earlier than the match, however one among his brothers “misunderstood” how you can use the clippers.
The ensuing mess, he mentioned, left him with no alternative however to begin over with a clear pate.
“The one option to repair it’s simply shave it off,” an off-the-cuff Alcaraz mentioned.
Alcaraz isn’t bothered by the state of affairs. As he reminded the reporters, hair grows again.
“I’m not likely into, you realize, the hair in any respect,” Alcaraz mentioned. “So I’m the man who thinks like, OK, the hair grows, you realize? After which [in] just a few days it’s gonna be already OK, I assume.”
Alcaraz apparently isn’t kidding in regards to the pace at which his hair grows. He talked about it to reporters through the Australian Open, after arriving in toasty Melbourne with shorter locks than traditional.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz serves throughout a apply session forward of the Australian Open on Jan. 9 in Melbourne.
(Mark Baker / Related Press)
“I mentioned with my barber that after I get a haircut… three days later it’s grown out,” Alcaraz mentioned in Melbourne. “So I’ve to go extra typically.”
Alcaraz unintentionally offered an illustration through the French Open, the place he first sported a reasonably bushy look throughout his first-round win over Giulio Zeppieri on Might 26.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after successful a degree throughout his first-round French Open match towards Italy’s Giulio Zeppieri on Might 26 in Paris.
(Thibault Camus / Related Press)
Two days later, nevertheless, Alcaraz returned to the courtroom for his second-round match towards Nuno Borges with a ‘do presumably (however most likely not) impressed by Moe Howard from the “Three Stooges.” Alcaraz instructed befuddled reporters after the match that he “needed to do one thing” about his hair and beard, so he flew in his private barber.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz returns the ball to Portugal’s Nuno Borges throughout their second-round match of the French Open on Might 28 in Paris.
(Christophe Ena / Related Press)
A mere 11 days later, when Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner within the remaining match for his fifth main championship, he was again to wanting like this:
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Italy’s Jannik Sinner within the French Open remaining June 8 in Paris.
(Lindsey Wasson / Related Press)
So if Alcaraz occurs to win the U.S. Open championship, like he did in 2022, he might need a prolonged mane whereas hoisting the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle.
Within the meantime, although, some individuals would possibly proceed to reply to his haircut the way in which U.S. participant Frances Tiafoe did when requested about it by a reporter following his first-round victory over Yoshihito Nishioka.
“It’s undoubtedly horrible,” Tiafoe mentioned with fun. “He’s my man, although. It’s humorous. I checked out him and I used to be like, ‘I assume you’re aerodynamic’ … I don’t know who instructed him to do this, but it surely’s horrible. From a man who will get haircuts week in, week out and prides myself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous.”
Alcaraz additionally laughed when he was requested about Tiafoe’s remark.
“I do know he’s mendacity,” Alcaraz mentioned. “He likes the haircut. He likes it, he instructed me.”
Others would possibly react like Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, who expressed his full help for the novel change atop Alcaraz’s head whereas assembly with the Spaniard earlier Monday.
“I prefer it,” McIlroy instructed him. “It’s good. It’s a superb look.”
Total, Alcaraz instructed reporters, reactions have been combined — and he actually doesn’t care both method.
“Some individuals prefer it. Some individuals don’t prefer it,” he mentioned. “To be sincere, I’m simply laughing in regards to the response of the individuals. It’s what it’s. So I can’t do anything proper now, so I’m simply laughing about every little thing that they’re speaking about my haircut.”
