Carlos Alcaraz Shows off a New Look at the 2025 US Open – Photos

Forget the match! It was the tennis player's dramatic new look that sent shockwaves through Flushing Meadows, Queens, on Monday night.

Carlos Alcaraz, known for his boyish charm and thick brown locks, stepped onto the court with a jaw-dropping buzz cut that left fans gasping at the first round of the US Open.

Clad in a maroon ensemble and exuding quiet confidence, the 22-year-old Spanish superstar powered through his first-round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 25, 2025, defeating American hopeful Reilly Opelka in straight sets. But it was his drastic transformation, not his gameplay, that had everyone talking.

Ditching His Signature Style

Months ago, at Roland Garros, Alcaraz still had his brown locks while facing off against rival Jannik Sinner in a high-octane final that made history. Just a few weeks ago, the world saw him again at Wimbledon, and nothing seemed different.

But this week in New York, he was virtually unrecognizable. Sporting a buzz cut, the once-boyish champion suddenly appeared more intense and mature than ever before.

Wearing a matching maroon Nike outfit, complete with a sleeveless top, shorts, and sneakers, Alcaraz commanded attention. A sleek sports jacket made a few appearances, but it was his shorn head that fans couldn’t stop staring at.

Online, netizens were quick and ruthless. One wrote, “Brother, what have you done to your hair?” while another declared, “Terrible cut.” Some were more conflicted, congratulating him on the win but begging, "Please don’t cut your hair."

Clapping Back with Confidence

Still, not everyone was horrified. When Alcaraz took the mic after his win, he turned to the crowd and boldly asked them what they thought of his new look. The response was thunderous applause and cheers. "I think they like it," he said with a grin, clearly unfazed by the online chaos.

And why should he care? Alongside his shocking style debut came a commanding 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory — proving once again that while hair may come and go, talent doesn’t lie.

"Today was a really difficult one," Alcaraz confessed humbly. "Reilly is a really tough player with that serve. I couldn’t get the rhythm that I wanted to get in the match, but I’m just really happy with everything I’ve done today."

Turning a Tense Match Into Victory

Though the first set looked like smooth sailing — with his 20 service points — sets two and three brought unexpected turbulence.

Opelka unleashed 14 blistering aces, easily outpacing Alcaraz’s four. But the Spaniard’s resilience shone through, returning 61% of Opelka’s serves and scoring 59% of second-serve return points. The strategic breaks came just in time, allowing Alcaraz to seize back control when it mattered most.

Dominating the Scene

He may have bowed out in the second round of last year’s US Open, but Carlos Alcaraz has since returned with a vengeance. Since his 2022 US Open title, he’s made the quarterfinals or better at nearly every major.

Now leading the ATP Tour in wins and titles, with a total of six, Alcaraz is riding a scorching seven-match winning streak since Cincinnati earlier this month.

Next up: a fiery showdown with Italy’s Mattia Bellucci, and the world will be watching every serve and every strand of hair that’s no longer there.

What do YOU think of Alcaraz’s buzz cut? Hot new look or hair-raising mistake? Sound off in the comments below!