Carlos Alcaraz’s buzz cut debut at the US Open created as much buzz as his tennis. The 2022 US Open champion dominated Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in his opening round, but fans and players couldn’t stop talking about his drastically different look.
Why Did Frances Tiafoe Call Carlos Alcaraz’s New Look “Terrible”?
Frances Tiafoe didn’t hold back when he spotted Alcaraz’s fresh buzz cut. The American, known for his playful trash talk, ran into the Spaniard in the locker room and couldn’t help but stare. Footage that surfaced online shows Tiafoe taking a long, hard look at his friend’s new hairstyle.
“It’s horrible,” Tiafoe said of the Spaniard’s hairstyle. “It’s definitely terrible. That’s my guy, though.” The American continued, “Funny, I looked and him, and I was like, ‘I guess you’re aerodynamic.'”
But Tiafoe wasn’t finished roasting his friend. “I don’t know who told him to do that, but it’s terrible. From me, a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, who prides himself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous,” Tiafoe said. “But at the end of the day, it’s Carlos, and that’s my guy.”
The 17th-seeded American, who advanced to the second round with a victory over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, often engages in playful banter with Alcaraz. He’ll face compatriot Martin Damm Jr. next as he looks to reach the third round.
How Did Carlos Alcaraz Respond to the Haircut Criticism?
When reporters asked Alcaraz about Tiafoe’s comments during his post-match interview, the Spaniard fired back with his own accusation.
“Frances is lying. No, come on. I saw the video. He said it is terrible. I know he is lying. I know he likes the haircut. He told me. Don’t hear anything coming from his mouth.”
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The playful rivalry between Tiafoe and Alcaraz goes back to their memorable 2022 US Open semifinal, where the Spaniard won a five-set thriller. Their friendship shows in these lighthearted exchanges that fans love to see.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz made sure to get the crowd’s opinion too. “I gotta ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Do you like it, guys?” Alcaraz asked during his post-match interview. As the fans roared their approval, he added: “I think they like it.”
What Really Happened With Carlos Alcaraz’s Haircut?
The story behind the buzz cut is even better than the final result. Alcaraz explained that his dramatic new look came from a family haircut gone wrong.
“Quite different, I guess. I felt like my hair was really long already,” the five-time Grand Slam winner said. “And before the tournament, I said that I really want to get a haircut,” he added. That’s where things went sideways. “Suddenly, my brother just misunderstood the machine. He just cut it, and the only way to fix it is just to shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that good… it’s not that bad, I guess.”
Alcaraz usually relies on his trusted barber Víctor Martínez, known as “Víctor Barber” on social media, for his grooming needs. However, this time, flying his personal barber to the United States for the tournament wasn’t an option. That left brother Álvaro to handle the clippers, with predictably chaotic results.
Despite the mishap, Alcaraz has embraced his new look with good humor. The 22-year-old continues his quest for a second US Open title, and if Tiafoe’s aerodynamic theory holds up, maybe the buzz cut will give him an edge on court.
