started · updated
Carlos Alcaraz unveils braids ahead of US Open comeback
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, 23, the seven‑time Grand Slam champion, has been sidelined since mid‑April 2026 by a right‑wrist injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon. He has used the recovery period to post training videos showing accelerated forehand drills and to share a new Instagram selfie featuring tight cornrow (root) braids, a look that has sparked a wave of mixed reactions on social media.
Alcaraz confirmed that he aims to return at the Cincinnati Masters (13‑23 August 2026) as a final preparation before defending his US Open title at the tournament scheduled for late August‑early September in New York. The new hairstyle, first seen on 30 July 2026, has drawn comparisons to pop‑culture figures and generated both praise and criticism from fans worldwide.
Entities
Barcelona Open · Carlos Alcaraz · Cincinnati Masters · Instagram · Spain · Spanish Tennis Federation · US Open · right‑wrist injury
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 19 SOURCES] Alcaraz has been recovering from a right‑wrist injury that caused him to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and several Masters tournaments. sportbild.bild.de · www.libertaddigital.com · gulfnews.com · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · +14 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Alcaraz previously had a buzz cut in 2025 after a clipper mishap and a platinum‑blonde hair phase. sportbild.bild.de · www.thebiglead.com · www.timesnownews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 19 SOURCES] Carlos Alcaraz unveiled a full head of tight cornrow braids on Instagram at the end of July 2026. sportbild.bild.de · www.marca.com · www.rtl.be · www.thebiglead.com · www.timesnownews.com · +14 more
- [DISPUTED] Alcaraz is scheduled to return at the Cincinnati Masters (13‑23 August 2026) and the US Open (23 August‑7 September 2026). www.libertaddigital.com · sportbild.bild.de · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · www.gamereactor.fr · +14 more
- [● 18 SOURCES] Alcaraz is a seven‑time Grand Slam champion and is 23 years old. sportbild.bild.de · www.rtl.be · www.thebiglead.com · www.timesnownews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · +13 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] Alcaraz missed the last two Grand Slam tournaments because of his wrist injury. sportbild.bild.de · gulfnews.com · www.mirror.co.uk · www.gamereactor.fr · www.rtl.be · +11 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Alcaraz posted training videos showing accelerated forehand drills as part of his recovery. sportbild.bild.de · www.libertaddigital.com · www.thebiglead.com · www.timesnownews.com
- [● 13 SOURCES] Fans reacted with mixed opinions to Alcaraz’s new braids on social media. sportbild.bild.de · www.rtl.be · www.thebiglead.com · www.timesnownews.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · +8 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Fans reacted on social media with mixed opinions, some praising the new braids and others criticizing them. sportbild.bild.de · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · www.gamereactor.fr · www.tvn-2.com · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Alcaraz is defending his US Open title after winning it the previous year. sportbild.bild.de · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · www.gamereactor.fr · www.tvn-2.com · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Carlos Alcaraz is a 23‑year‑old Spanish tennis player and seven‑time Grand Slam champion. sportbild.bild.de · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · www.gamereactor.fr · www.tvn-2.com · +14 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] Alcaraz posted on Instagram a photo/video showing a full head of tight cornrow braids. sportbild.bild.de · www.mirror.co.uk · www.marca.com · www.gamereactor.fr · www.tvn-2.com · +14 more