Carlos Alcaraz turned heads at the US Open before even stepping on court, unveiling a striking new buzz cut that instantly drew comparisons to David Beckham’s iconic 2000 hairstyle. Tournament organizers joined in on the fun, posting a clip of the Spaniard with the caption: “Welcome back, David Beckham 2000,” referencing the soccer star’s closely cropped look from 25 years ago.
The haircut sparked plenty of reactions. During a practice session, golf legend Rory McIlroy jokingly rubbed Alcaraz’s head and asked, “Why this?” The world No. 2 laughed it off, saying, “Just got a haircut that I struggled with. I mean, I had to start fresh. I like it… it’s good.” Not everyone was as supportive. Fellow player Frances Tiafoe offered some good-natured but brutal honesty, calling the cut “horrible” and “terrible,” while adding with a grin, “I guess you’re aerodynamic.” Tiafoe, who takes pride in his own regular trims, insisted the look didn’t change his opinion of Alcaraz: “At the end of the day, it’s Carlos, and that’s my guy.”
Despite the chatter, Alcaraz quickly shifted focus back to tennis. In his opening-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 21-year-old handled big-serving American Reilly Opelka with confidence, winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-4. With the victory, the second seed took the first step toward reclaiming the US Open crown he first captured in 2022 and securing what would be his sixth career Grand Slam title. Alcaraz is also eager to avoid a repeat of last year’s disappointment, when he exited in the second round.
