2 weeks ago
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Carlos Alcaraz left fans - and his fellow professionals - stunned when he arrived for his first-round clash at the US Open with a brand new look.
Despite arriving in New York with his signature thick, flowing locks on Saturday, just two days later the former champion debuted a wildly different hairstyle on Monday.
Sometime in the past two days, the Spaniard had shaved his head, sporting a buzz cut as he began his Grand Slam campaign.
Yet not everyone was a fan. American star Frances Tiafoe was left bewildered when he exited the Arthur Ashe court following his straight-sets win over Yoshihito Nishioka and came face-to-face with Alcaraz's new 'do.
A short clip shared by the US Open captured Tiafoe seeing Alcaraz's buzz cut for the first time - and his unimpressed reaction.
The world No 17 couldn't take his eyes off his friend's newly bald head as Alcaraz prepared for his own clash against Reilly Opelka.
Frances Tiafoe (right) has weighed in on Carlos Alcaraz's (left) dramatic new hairstyle
'Yeah, it's horrible. It's terrible,' Tiafoe said when asked about the clip during his post-match press conference.
'I mean, 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,' he said.
'Juan Carlos 'Mosquito' was laughing. He was like, Yeah, he's faster than he already was. I was like, Well, that's a problem. Yeah, I don't know who told him that it's good. I don't know who told him to do that, but it's terrible. 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.'
Tiafoe wasn't the only one to be taken aback by Alcaraz's new hairstyle. Golfer Rory McIlroy was spotted chatting to the 22-year-old during his warmup.
'Why this?' McIlroy, who debuted his own new haircut in July ahead of the Scottish Open, said, pointing at Alcaraz's head.
'Just got a haircut that I struggled with. I mean I had to start fresh,' Alcaraz responded.
'Yeah, good. I like it. It's a good look,' McIlroy added.
The American came face-to-face with Alcaraz's buzz cut following his US Open match
Just days earlier, the Spaniard had arrived in New York with his usual flowing locks
Then both men gushed over each other, with the five-time major winner saying he was a big fan of the 36-year-old McIlroy.
McIlroy continued by saying the duo should golf together sometime, with Alcaraz happy to hear he could get a lesson from one of the best in the world, as he couldn't recreate his swing.
The Northern Irishman returned the compliment by saying he could not perform Alcaraz's signature backhand.
Despite the buzz around his buzz cut, it proved to be a lucky charm for Alcaraz as he cruised through to the second round at Flushing Meadows with a straight-sets win over Opelka.
