Carlos Alcaraz debuted a sharp crew cut before powering past towering American Reilly Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 in the US Open first round on Monday night.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, champion in New York in 2022, admitted the haircut came after his brother botched a trim, leaving him no choice but to shave it off.
While Frances Tiafoe called the look “terrible,” Alcaraz shrugged off the reactions and focused on his game.
Against the 6ft 11in Opelka, Alcaraz showed composure in key moments, breaking once in each set to secure a straight-sets win.
He sealed victory with a blistering forehand down the line, delighted with how he handled his opponent’s serve.
“It was a really difficult one, but I’m happy with what I did today,” Alcaraz said afterwards.