The mixed reactions to Carlos Alcaraz’s shaved head at the US Open

CARLOS ALCARAZ has made headlines – shocker! But not for taking home a new Grand Slam title (the US Open has just begun), or for a new watch he’s sporting. The world number two has been placed under scrutiny for the absence of his once thick, enfant Bieber-like locks.

Arriving at Arthur Ashe in Flushing Meadows, New York, to face Reilly Opelka, the Spaniard debuted his fresh buzz cut to the tournament crowd. Spotted on the scene was golf star Rory McIlroy, who reached out to rub the 22-year-old’s scalp stubble like one would a Buddha statue for good luck – not that Alcaraz would need it.

Meanwhile, fellow player Frances Tiafoe wasn’t a fan of his friend’s new ‘do. When the American player was asked if he would make that big a change before a Slam, Tiafoe responded:

“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.”

We shouldn’t forget Alcaraz is no stranger to the mid-Slam chop, nor is he the superstitious sort. During Roland Garros in May, Alcaraz famously flew in his barber mid-tournament to buzz down his sides. He would go on to win the French title against Jannik Sinner.

At Esquire, the general consensus is that it’s telling of the male zeitgeist. “Recession indicator,” a colleague chimed. “He looks better without the IT department haircut,” said another.

Another observed it as “a reset – no pretty boy.” It even reminded another colleague of a 2000s David Beckham, “He is young, though, he will learn.”

One colleague at least recognised the strength it takes a man to recognise the facts. “I appreciate a man who knows when it’s time to call it a day and lean into a buzz cut.”

The internet, on the other hand, is doing what it does best. One user compared the opaline shave to a 2000s Britney Spears. Another captioned a photo of the player in his aubergine Nike kit with, “Me: you better not be bald and looking like an eggplant when I get there”. While the official US Open X account tweeted, “Welcome back, 2000 David Beckham.”

Call it a moment of vulnerability, but when McIlroy asked Alcaraz in an interview about the shave, it was because he struggled with the result of an unhappy first cut. “I had to start fresh,” said Alcaraz.

As someone with an admittedly similar scalp density of enviable curls, I, too, have felt the temptation of a razor after a bad haircut. And as we head into our spring here in Sydney, I might seize the prompt to “start fresh” like Alcaraz.

So, what else is there to read into the dramaturgy of a man’s only malleable grooming asset? Well, as our economy continues to plunge, baggy jeans persist, and flyers for a noughties David Beckham lookalike contest being printed as we speak, something worse entirely remains: the 2000s aren’t leaving us just yet.