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Carlos Alcaraz may be the men’s world No. 2 and a five-time grand slam champion, but his new buzzcut has arguably attracted as much attention as his performances on court. The hairstyle, which debuted at the US Open, has caused a stir among fans and players alike — and even his trusted barber, Víctor Martínez, has had to respond.
For Martínez, the relationship with Alcaraz goes beyond scissors and fades. The barber from El Palmar, on the outskirts of Murcia, has been Alcaraz’s go-to stylist for over two years. He recalls their first meeting vividly, when a friend told him the young tennis star would be walking through his doors. “The first time, I was super nervous. My hands were shaking. He was world No. 1 at that time!” Martínez says.
Over time, their relationship has blossomed into something both personal and professional. Alcaraz prefers to cut his hair before traveling for tournaments, and their conversations often drift from tennis to football — especially when Real Madrid is in action. Sometimes Martínez goes to Alcaraz’s house, and on other occasions he has traveled with him to cities like Paris and Valencia to keep his look sharp during competition.
Despite their closeness, both Alcaraz and Martínez have been subject to public scrutiny. Fans on social media are not always kind about the star’s hairstyles, but the pair have learned to laugh it off. “Carlos and I laugh about the bad comments. Carlos keeps coming to me because he likes it,” Martínez told CNN Sport. In fact, the criticism has had an unexpected upside: global publicity. “At the end of the day, the bad comments are also good because they create publicity,” he smiles.
The exposure has brought Martínez international recognition and booming business. Locals frequently walk into his shop asking for “the Carlos haircut” — longer on top with a fade at the back and sides. Many of these customers are children who idolize the Spanish tennis sensation. “It makes you happy because people know you in many different parts of the world, thanks to Carlos,” Martínez reflects.
But the now-famous buzzcut is not his creation. Ahead of the US Open, Alcaraz felt his hair had grown too long and asked his brother Álvaro to trim it. A mishap with the clippers left no option but to shave it all off. “New York is too far away for Víctor,” Alcaraz explained. His barber, however, jokingly lamented the result: “I asked Carlos what happened, and he told me the culprit was his brother Álvaro. I have to speak to Álvaro about what he has done!”
Even fellow players have weighed in. World No. 17 Frances Tiafoe branded the look “horrendous” but admitted it might make Alcaraz “more aerodynamic.” Martínez echoed the sentiment with humor: “I laughed because I said the same thing — now he’s going to be faster!”
Still, Martínez is convinced that the buzzcut will be a one-time experiment. “He’s not going to do this again,” the barber insists. For Alcaraz, the next trip home to El Palmar will likely mean a return to his trusted fade — and for Martínez, another chance to prove why the world keeps talking about his cuts.
