Carlos Alcaraz Ditches Braids Days After Backlash Ahead of Cincinnati Open

Carlos Alcaraz, the 23-year-old tennis star, has abandoned his recent braided hairstyle just four days after it gained widespread attention. This change was captured in a recent training video that has since gone viral on social media platform X. The switch to his natural, shorter hair style is particularly noteworthy as Alcaraz prepares to make his return to professional tennis at the upcoming Cincinnati Masters 1000 tournament, which begins mid-August.

The switch from long braids to his usual hairstyle comes after a period of growth during his recovery from a wrist injury sustained during the Barcelona Open in April. The long hair was a noticeable change that fans observed during his attendance at the FIFA World Cup final in mid-July. While some fans appreciated the bold new look, comparing it favorably to other athletes, others were less enthusiastic about the change, which seemed to be a temporary trend.

This is not the first time Alcaraz has experimented with his appearance; last year, he sported a buzz cut following a mishap with his brother's clippers, and also dyed his hair platinum blonde after his US Open victory. Despite his stylistic shifts, Alcaraz has been diligent in his recovery process and has been practicing intensely, demonstrating full range of motion in his right arm.

His absence from significant tournaments, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and three Masters 1000 events, pushed him down the rankings to No. 3 behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.