Carlos Alcaraz debuts braided hairstyle ahead of US Open comeback
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, 23, revealed a full head of tight cornrow braids on Instagram at the end of July 2026. The new look follows months of recovery from a right‑wrist injury that forced him out of the French Open, Wimbledon and several Masters events. In the Instagram carousel he posted a mirror selfie, a short video of the braids from behind and clips of himself practising forehands, signalling that his fitness is improving.
Fans reacted with a mix of praise and criticism, some calling the style bold and others preferring his earlier cuts. Alcaraz has previously attracted attention for a buzz‑cut in 2025 (caused by a clipper mishap) and a platinum‑blonde phase. He is slated to return to competition at the Cincinnati Masters (13–23 August) and the US Open (23 August–7 September) if his wrist continues to heal.
Entities: Carlos Alcaraz · Cincinnati Masters · Instagram · US Open · right‑wrist injury
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Alcaraz has been recovering from a right‑wrist injury that caused him to miss the French Open, Wimbledon and several Masters tournaments. (multiple sources)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Alcaraz previously had a buzz cut in 2025 after a clipper mishap and a platinum‑blonde hair phase. (multiple sources)
- [● 11 SOURCES] Carlos Alcaraz unveiled a full head of tight cornrow braids on Instagram at the end of July 2026. (multiple sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Alcaraz is scheduled to return at the Cincinnati Masters (13‑23 August 2026) and the US Open (23 August‑7 September 2026). (multiple sources)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Alcaraz is a seven‑time Grand Slam champion and is 23 years old. (multiple sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Alcaraz missed the last two Grand Slam tournaments because of his wrist injury. (multiple sources)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Alcaraz posted training videos showing accelerated forehand drills as part of his recovery. (multiple sources)
- [● 9 SOURCES] Fans reacted to Alcaraz’s new braid hairstyle with both praise and criticism on social media. (multiple sources)