ATP Tour

Alcaraz debuts new buzzcut, Tiafoe shares hilarious evaluation

Carlos Alcaraz made an impression at the US Open Monday before even stepping on court for his first-round match against Reilly Opelka.

The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings debuted a buzzcut, quickly drawing reaction from fans and players alike. The Spaniard even discussed it on site with golf star Rory McIlroy.

“Just got a haircut that I struggled with,” Alcaraz told McIlroy in a video captured by the US Open. “I had to start fresh.”

When Frances Tiafoe completed his first-round victory against Yoshihito Nishioka, the haircut aficionado met Alcaraz in the cooldown gym and marveled at Alcaraz’s new hairdo.

Tiafoe comes off court and gets his first look at the new cut for Carlos 👀 pic.twitter.com/fxPCggV5Zz

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025

“It’s definitely terrible. He's my guy though. It's funny. I looked at him and I was like, ‘I guess you're aerodynamic’. Juan Carlos ‘Mosquito’ was laughing. He was like, ‘Yeah, he's faster than he already was’. I was like, ‘Well, that's a problem’,” Tiafoe said. “From a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, and prides myself on good haircuts, it's horrendous.

“At the end of the day, it's Carlos, and that's my guy. But yeah, he needs to get with me. He needs to get with me for sure.”

Following his first round victory against Reilly Opelka on Monday night, Alcaraz explained the origins of his new style.

​​“I felt like my hair was really long before the tournament and I wanted to cut it,” said Alcaraz. “My brother made a mistake with the clippers and... the only way of fixing it was to shave it all off. This haircut is the result. Honestly, it’s not too bad.”

Alcaraz usually has his hair cut by his friend and trusted barber Victor, as he did at Roland Garros, but this time he opted to hand the responsibility to his family, claiming New York was “too far” for Victor.

“From the moment people saw my haircut, it’s all I’ve heard about,” he acknowledged with a laugh. “Some people like it, others don’t. The reactions make me laugh. It is what it is, I can’t change it now. So I just laugh it off.”

Despite having all focus on his first Lexus ATP Head2Head match against Opelka, Alcaraz couldn’t help but find it amusing when seeing himself on the big screens inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It was funny when I saw myself on the screen, with my hair so short and looking so white. It was weird to see myself like that,” said the five-time major champion. “I think I was faster with this haircut!

“I do wear a cap more now because I often find I have a cold head. It’s a different style, completely different from what people are used to seeing me with.”