The US Open is done and dusted, and while Carlos Alcaraz’s epic triumph over Jannik Sinner in the final stole the headlines, it’s his bold new look that has everyone buzzing. The Spaniard revealed that his hair had grown too long before the tournament, and he desperately wanted a cut, until his brother hilariously misunderstood the clipper settings. The result? A full shave was the only solution. We’ll never know if this full shave move made him “aerodynamic” like Tiafoe claims. Fast-forward to the Laver Cup, and Alcaraz has turned heads again by debuting striking platinum-blonde hair.

Now, with teammates and rivals sharing their candid reactions, the conversation has shifted from trophies to tresses. Curious who said what? The Tennis Channel recently lit up social media by dropping a hilarious clip featuring Team Europe and Team World weighing in on Carlos Alcaraz’s bold new look, his striking platinum-blonde buzz cut. Captioned cheekily, “The Laver Cup boys have weighed in 🤣,” the video became an instant hit as players from both sides shared their reactions, setting the tone for an already electric Laver Cup build-up. 

And, as you’d expect, the opinions ranged from playful teasing to outright admiration, with a few wishing they had the guts to try it themselves.

Casper Ruud kicked things off with a gem, saying, “We have an ongoing discussion of what the nickname should be for him. ‘Silver Fox’ is pretty good. You know, his hair grows so fast. It was blonde two days ago, and now it’s already turning silver. In a few days, it’ll be even darker. ‘Silver Fox’ is a good nickname for him, and I think it’s cool.” The Norwegian’s words set the stage, sparking a chorus of commentary from players who were clearly just as fascinated as the fans.

Alex de Minaur followed this up with an almost speechless admiration, laughing as he said, “It’s [a style] that is hard to put into words. But he can probably pull anything off, so kudos to him!” Taylor Fritz, who has shared plenty of court battles with Alcaraz, added his own take: “The thing is, I kind of knew it was coming. I don’t think it’s bad. I like it!” The lighthearted vibes kept flowing as Reilly Opelka kept it short and powerful: “He just won the US Open. Do whatever you want!”

Flavio Cobolli’s reaction was equally glowing, sharing, “I said that it’s really nice because I really like him blonde. So, I really love it.” Then came Team Europe’s new captain, Yannick Noah, who offered a more philosophical perspective: “You know, we’re like actors. You play tennis the club you grow up playing, and all the sudden you’re on these stages with all these people watching you. Of course, you have to play and protect yourself, and so you start with a haircut. Whatever you wear, it’s like your favorite shirt, and a lot of people are watching. I think it’s a good energy and it suits him very well. It looks great! And then he turned it to blonde. I want to be blonde too, but I don’t think it’s going to work. I support him.”

Francisco Cerundolo added to the chorus of approval, saying, “I cannot lie. It’s something different. I always support people that go different than the rest. So, I think it’s good!” Young gun Alex Michelsen, meanwhile, was brutally honest with a laugh: “I was like, ‘Wow.’ I’m kind of like Frances. I was like, ‘😬.’ It was a little like, ‘Oh, ok.’ But he can pull it off. When you win Grand Slams, you can do whatever you want. It looks good when you win Slams, but if I did it, it would not look good.”

Alexander Zverev revealed that he got a sneak peek before the world did. “We talked about it. He texted me and sent me a picture before I saw it live. Look, a new haircut, apparently it works. Every time he has one, he wins the tournament, so hopefully it’s going to go the same way for Laver Cup.” The German’s words added a subtle reminder that, for Alcaraz, style seems to come with success.

Team World vice-captain Pat Rafter, ever the straight shooter, confessed, “I actually didn’t say anything. I bit my tongue. I thought about it a bit later and thought, ‘I wonder if he’s happy with that hair.’ Listen, he came in with a whole new look for the US Open and it was pretty cool, and he’s come in here again, so I hope he doesn’t have the same sort of performance. Maybe a change of hair style makes him play even better; I certainly hope not!”

Then came Alcaraz himself, who couldn’t resist getting cheeky when asked which teammate he’d like to see get a fresh cut. With no hesitation, he laughed and said, “For sure Sascha (Alexander Zverev), he has the same style, same hair like I don’t know, 5 years now, so I think it’s time to have a change for him.” The situation erupted, cementing the moment as a classic Carlitos mic-drop.

It’s all part of the whirlwind that has surrounded Alcaraz in the days following his latest triumph. On Sunday, he captured his sixth major title, taking down Jannik Sinner in a four-set classic to win the US Open. Just two days later, he shocked fans by revealing his platinum transformation, first teasing it on Instagram with a foil-covered selfie, then unveiling the final look courtesy of his barber, Víctor Martínez. 

And now, with Team Europe leading 5-2 historically and the Laver Cup hype reaching fever pitch, Alcaraz isn’t just hitting forehands, he’s serving looks and swinging for style supremacy too.

Carlos Alcaraz joins Roger Federer for pre-Laver Cup golf swing

Before unleashing forehands, the Laver Cup stars were calling out “Fore!” as they swapped the court for the course. Team Europe’s Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud, and Alexander Zverev wasted no time trading tennis racquets for golf clubs after landing in San Francisco, joining none other than Roger Federer for a day on the greens.

Federer, ever the gracious host, welcomed Alcaraz back to Laver Cup with an Instagram post that praised his “nice work on the golf course,” sharing warm photos of the duo.

“Hope you packed your racquets,” Federer quipped under images of him playfully inspecting Carlos Alcaraz’s new platinum buzzcut before sharing a heartfelt hug with the World No. 1.

Their bond extends beyond banter, with Alcaraz revealing after his second US Open triumph that Federer recently offered him invaluable career advice.

“He told me you have to be focused on the next five years, from here to when I’m 27,” Alcaraz shared. “And then, when I get 27, then think about five years more. I think that’s the best person that … could tell me that, and I will try to follow his words.”

But Alcaraz wasn’t Federer’s only golf companion; Ruud and Zverev were also part of the outing, adding to the camaraderie ahead of an intense weekend of tennis.

Now, after sharing laughs and drives on the course, Carlos Alcaraz, Ruud, and Zverev will look to drive Team Europe to a sixth Laver Cup crown. The question remains: can a blond Alcaraz lead his squad to glory once again?