Frances Tiafoe weighs in on Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘horrendous’ haircut

Frances Tiafoe took one look at Carlos Alcaraz’s new buzzcut in the cooldown gym at the US Open and couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“It’s definitely terrible,” Tiafoe said after his first-round victory. “He’s my guy though. It’s funny. I looked at him and I was like, ‘I guess you’re aerodynamic.’ Juan Carlos [Ferrero] was laughing. He was like, ‘Yeah, he’s faster than he already was.’ I was like, ‘Well, that’s a problem.’ “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.”

Frances Tiafoe on Carlos Alcaraz's new haircut:

"It's definitely terrible... that's my guy though." 😭😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/QgMHyqzoGw

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025

The problem for No. 2 Alcaraz, widely considered one of the nicest players on the ATP Tour, is that he didn’t get with Tiafoe, or even with a real barber.

He had his brother cut his hair ahead of his first-round singles victory over Reilly Opelka in straight sets.

“I mean, it was just I felt like my hair was really long already, and before the tournament I just really wanted to get a haircut,” said Alcaraz, 2022 US Open champion and a five-time major winner.

“Suddenly, my brother just - he misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it. Then, you know, the only way to fix it is just shave it off. It’s just what came, this haircut.

“To be honest, it’s not that bad, I guess.”

Asked about Tiafoe’s review of the haircut, Alcaraz smiled and said the American was “lying.”

“Frances is lying,” Alcaraz said. “Frances is lying. No, come on. I saw the video. He showed up here saying that it is terrible.

“I know he’s lying. I know he likes the haircut. He told me. So no, [don’t] hear anything coming from his mouth.”

Meantime, newly-minted Hall of Famer Maria Sharapova politely called the haircut “low maintenance.”

“I haven’t gotten to the tennis,” she said on ESPN. “I’m still stuck at the buzz cut. It’s so low maintenance. And he just did it. That’s a good effort. I’d be so superstitious. But that’s what you have to love about him is just his ability to be so free and so confident and have this particular aura about him that transcends the game.”

Maria Sharapova on Carlos Alcaraz’s haircut at the U.S. Open

“What’s your take on the modern game? On the men’s side we’re seeing Sinner and Alcaraz have risen it…”

Maria: “I haven’t gotten to the tennis. I’m still stuck at the buzz cut. 😂 It’s so low maintenance. And he just… pic.twitter.com/IZ4EDJa0Ue

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 26, 2025

The haircut certainly didn’t adversely effect Alcaraz on the court. He said he felt “faster” with less hair and overcame Opelka’s massive serve in straight sets.

In the third set, he hit a crosscourt forehand winner from the corner that stunned Opelka - and the capacity crowd.

Carlos Alcaraz with an INSANE FOREHAND PASSING SHOT against Opelka at the U.S. Open.

Just a flick of the wrist.

Absurd talent. 🤯🤯🤯

pic.twitter.com/tNSRrpxolI

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 26, 2025

“Every time that I get haircut, in two or three days it’s gone,” he said. “I feel angry sometimes, because I just feel like I cannot enjoy my haircut that much time.

“I think it is not a bad thing truly. It’s just, in three days you’re going to see another hair[style].”

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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.