New hairstyle, same old rock-solid tennis! Carlos Alcaraz made a winning start at the US Open, ousting Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 at Arthur she Stadium. The Spaniard's victory was not the only thing that caughtattention.
World no. 2 stepped into the court with a new look, completely different from what we saw seven days ago in Cincinnati. The 22-year-oldtraded his usual hairstyle for a clean-shaven cut.
The change was not the result of style planning but rather a family mishap. Carlos asked his brother, Alvaro, for a haircut, thinking his hair had grown too long.
However, a slip with the trimmer left no option but to shave it all off, giving the five-time Major champion a striking new appearance. Despite the unexpected makeover, Alcaraz remained unfazed.
He brushed off the incident with smile and admitting it will behind him in a couple of days when his hair grows back. He even asked the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium if they liked it or not.
On the court, the Spaniard's tennis was as sharp as ever. He defended all three break points against a dangerous opponent and provided three breaks from 11 opportunities to control the scoreboard and secure a confident start.
The favorite tamed his strokes nicely and took the pivotal points en route to a comfortable victory. For Carlos, the haircut may have been accidental, but it added to the buzz around his US Open campaign.
"I felt like my hair was really long. I said I really need to get a haircut before the tournament. Suddenly, my brother just misunderstood with the machine. He made the first cut, and shaving it was the only way to fix it.
To be honest, it's not that bad. I do not pay that much attention to my hair. It grows and will be o.k in a few days," Carlos Alcaraz said.
