When Carlos Alcaraz played his first match in the ongoing US Open, his hairstyle made global headlines more than his performance against Reilly Opelka. Alcaraz was forced to sport a buzz cut that had gone wrong because of his brother, Alvaro.
His hair is growing back quickly, and the five-time Grand Slam champion has planned another hairstyle if his Major titles tally reaches six. But for that to happen, the 22-year-old has to go past his arch-rival Jannik Sinner in what will also be a rematch of this year’s French Open and Wimbledon finals.
At the press conference after his straight-set win over Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, when a journalist asked him if he would keep the haircut or change it, Alcaraz flashed his bright smile and said he is planning a better hairstyle.
Even better. Even better. You will see. You will see. Surprise, surprise!
Against Djokovic, Alcaraz has now improved to a 4-5 head-to-head record. The Serb was chasing his 25th Major and will continue his hunt for the same next year.
Carlos Alcaraz on his haircut plans if he wins the U.S. Open:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 6, 2025
“Even better. You’ll see. Surprise.”
pic.twitter.com/mZxpuc83x7
In the previous three Majors, Djokovic succumbed to an injury and gave a walkover to Alexander Zverev , before he fell in straight sets against Sinner in the semifinals of the French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz now holds a 3-2 head-to-head edge over the 38-year-old in Grand Slam meetings. He had also defeated Casper Ruud to clinch his first Grand Slam title at the US Open back in 2022.
For the first time in the Open Era, two players will face each other for the third time in Grand Slam finals in the same season. Prior to Flushing Meadows, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz met for the first time in a Major final at Roland Garros, with the latter winning it but not before overcoming a two-set deficit and saving three match points. Sinner did not make the same mistake when they faced off in the Wimbledon final.
Since the Italian Open, whenever the two players were in the draw, they reached the final. Sunday’s match will be their fifth consecutive final against each other. Before the last Major of the season, Sinner retired mid-match in the Cincinnati Masters final against him.
The four-time Grand Slam champion, who is also aiming to defend his title, will in fact be playing his fifth consecutive Grand Slam final. He is also the fourth man in the Open Era to reach all Major finals in a calendar year.
Well, amazing stats. You know, I would have never thought that I would make this when I turned pro, and now I find myself here. So it’s amazing. I think, you know, five straight Grand Slam finals, it’s something great. The consistency and putting myself there in the later stages of the biggest tournaments we have, it’s amazing, no?
A win in the final will make Sinner the first man since Roger Federer (2004-2008) to defend the US Open title. It will also make him the second man in history to defend both the Australian Open and US Open in consecutive seasons after Federer (2006-2007).
But in the same time, I know it’s in the back of my head, whatever I’m doing, but in the same time, whatever is done is done. I’m here. I have a very important day Sunday, and then we see.
Jannik Sinner added
Alcaraz leads 9-5 in the head-to-head matchups against Sinner. En route to the final, Alcaraz did not drop a set, becoming only the fourth man since 2000 to do so. If he wins, it will be his seventh title of the season, while Sinner is chasing his third.
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