Alcaraz’s new haircut wins Sharapova and crowd’s approval, but Tiafoe isn’t impressed; Williams makes emotional US Open exit

Carlos Alcaraz’s new buzz haircut became the biggest talking point on Day 2 of the US Open 2025 as the former champion made a winning start on Tuesday, while the legendary Venus Williams made an emotional exit from the first round. At 45, Williams became the oldest singles player at the US Open since Renee Richards in 1981 on Tuesday, but her campaign lasted just three sets.

The two-time US Open champion lost to 11th seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. “I’m very proud of how I played,” said Williams.

“I think for me getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy,” added Williams, who suffers Sjogren’s, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain. “When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It’s not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too. So it was nice to be freer.”

Alcaraz’s new haircut gets fans, Sharapova’s approval

Meanwhile, Alcaraz dismantled Riley Opelka 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to set up a second-round match with Italian Mattia Bellucci. But more than tennis, it was his new haircut that made the headlines. He was seen taking the crowd’s approval after his match.

“I gotta ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Do you like it, guys?” Alcaraz asked the crowd after beating Opelka. As they roared loudly, Alcaraz added:  “I think they like it.”

Alcaraz after beating Opelka at the U.S. Open

“You look faster out here. Was it the hair cut?”

Carlos: “I gotta ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Do you like it guys?”

*crowd roars*

Carlos: “I think they like it” 😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/94umFQYMbG

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

Tennis great Maria Sharapova also approved the new hairstyle. “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,” Sharapova told ESPN.

Tiafoe disapproves Alcaraz’s haircut

But Frances Tiafoe didn’t like the hairstyle. “It’s horrible. It’s terrible. It’s definitely terrible. That’s my guy, though. Funny, I looked and him, and I was like, I guess you’re aerodynamic,’” he said.

“I don’t know who told him to do that, but it’s terrible. From a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, who prides himself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous,” Tiafoe added.

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In the post-match press conference, Alcaraz admitted that the new haircut is the result of an accident, as his regular barber is not accompanying him in New York.

“Quite different, I guess,” Alcaraz said. “I felt like my hair was really long already. And before the tournament, I said that I really wanted to get a haircut. Suddenly, my brother just misunderstood with the machine. He just cut it and the only way to fix it is just to shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that good… It’s not that bad, I guess.”

Other major US Open results

In other major results, teenager Mirra Andreeva defeated Alycia Parks 6-0, 6-1, while Madison Keys lost 6-7(10), 7-6(3), 7-5 to Renata Zarazua in the first match on Arthur Ashe.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Barbora Krejcikova knocked out Victoria Mboko 6-3, 6-2.

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Tiafoe beat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-3.

US Open 2024 semi-finalist Jack Draper got the better of Federico Agustin Gomez 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(7).

Cameron Norrie advanced after Sebastian Korda retired when trailing 7-5, 6-4, while Joao Fonseca secured a 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Miomir Kecmanovic.

Casper Ruud crushed Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(5) and Holger Rune edged past Botic van De Zandschulp 6-3, 7-6(4), 7-6(2).