Carlos Alcaraz walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium with more than just tennis skills, turning heads. The Spanish superstar’s shocking new buzzcut became the talk of the tournament before he even hit his first serve against Reilly Opelka.
What started as preparation for another Grand Slam run turned into a full-blown style debate, with everyone from John McEnroe to Frances Tiafoe weighing in on the dramatic makeover.
How Did Frances Tiafoe React to Carlos Alcaraz’s New Hairstyle?
Second seed and former US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz drew plenty of eyes on Monday before even stepping onto the court against Reilly Opelka. Usually in the spotlight for his on-court brilliance, Alcaraz made headlines this time for a completely different reason. His striking new buzzcut sent shockwaves through fans and pundits alike.
The reactions came fast and blunt. Tiafoe’s reaction had perfect timing and context. As he wrapped up his first-round victory against Yoshihito Nishioka, he spotted Alcaraz in the cooldown gym and immediately noticed the buzzcut during their interaction.
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
During his post-match press conference at Flushing Meadows, Tiafoe didn’t hold back. While calling Alcaraz his “guy,” he delivered a brutally honest assessment of the new haircut.
“I mean it’s definitely terrible. That’s my guy though. Funny, I looked at him and I was like, ‘I guess you are aerodynamic.’ I don’t know who told him to do that, but it’s terrible,” he said.
La honestidad de Tiafoe sobre el corte de Carlitos 😂 pic.twitter.com/39Z5wB6UIj
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2025
Tiafoe, who takes pride in his own style game, doubled down on his critique. “From a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, who prides himself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous. But at the end of the day, it’s Carlos, and that’s my guy. But he needs to get with me,” he added.
The timing of Alcaraz’s hairstyle change caught everyone off guard. After his Cincinnati triumph, Alcaraz arrived in New York last week for the US Open with his hair intact. The look remained unchanged through his first two training sessions at Flushing Meadows, making the sudden transformation even more surprising.
The reasoning behind the drastic cut became clearer during his interaction with golf star Rory McIlroy. Alcaraz explained that he had struggled with the haircut and wanted a fresh start.
What Did John McEnroe Have to Say About Carlos Alcaraz’s Makeover?
The wave of reactions didn’t stop with Tiafoe. McEnroe also got candid about the Spanish star’s bold choice. The American legend humorously questioned Alcaraz’s makeover, joking about whether his Spanish stylist was responsible for the drastic change.
“First of all his haircut.. did he get the buzz cut from his hair stylist in Spain? He brought him in at Wimbledon. I’m wondering because you can get that for 20 bucks in the city,” he said.
John McEnroe on Carlos Alcaraz’ haircut ahead of his U.S. Open match against Reilly Opelka:
“First of all his haircut.. did he get the buzz cut from his hair stylist in Spain? He brought him in at Wimbledon. I’m wondering because you can get that for 20 bucks in the city” 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/z38n2SCg8q
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 26, 2025
Beyond the style debate, Alcaraz remained focused on his ultimate goal. The US Open presents another prime opportunity to add to his Grand Slam collection. Facing home favorite Opelka, he defeated him in straight sets (6-4, 7-5, 6-4). He now advances to face Mattia Bellucci in the second round.
