Cornrows and braids: Carlos Alcaraz breaks the internet with his new hairstyle
Carlos Alcaraz never stops surprising us. After three and a half months away from the courts, the Spanish tennis star has made headlines in the most unexpected way. On his Instagram account, the El Palmar native debuted a brand-new look: cornrows.
An Instagram post that changed everything
For the first time, the Spanish player showed off cornrows. The post immediately triggered a wave of reactions across social media, catching countless followers completely off guard.
Some even wondered whether the image was AI-generated. Others boldly compared him to Canadian singer Drake. Within hours, the photo had quite literally broken the internet.
This is not the first time the Iberian prodigy has turned heads with his hair. He had already drawn attention to his look during the 2026 World Cup final. Now, he has taken things a step further with this latest hair experiment.
“Some even wondered whether the image was AI-generated.”
Months of growth to achieve the cornrows
To get to this result, the player let his hair grow out over several months, a period that coincided largely with his recovery from a wrist injury.
About ten days before the post went live, he had still been spotted with his long hair at the football World Cup final. The transformation, then, felt both swift and spectacular to his fans.
A highly anticipated return to competition
Carlos Alcaraz has been sidelined with a wrist injury since the Barcelona tournament. Since then, the world number 3 has not played a single match, with his absence stretching to three and a half months.
The Spanish player is expected to be fit for the Cincinnati Masters 1000, scheduled from 13 to 23 August. His return is eagerly awaited, both by his supporters and by the wider ATP Tour.
The sporting stakes on this American swing are also considerable. He will have a significant number of points to defend over the coming weeks.
- Wrist injury sustained at the Barcelona tournament
- Three and a half months away from the ATP Tour
- Expected return at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 (13 to 23 August)
- Defending champion in Cincinnati and at the US Open
- Cornrows unveiled for the first time on Instagram
ATP ranking under pressure
On the sporting front, the situation remains delicate. He is the defending champion in both Cincinnati and at the US Open, meaning he will need to protect a large number of ranking points during this American swing.
A drop in the ATP rankings is therefore possible, though it could be cushioned to varying degrees by the results of other players on the circuit.
Between sport and style, a modern icon
Beyond tennis, Carlos Alcaraz is increasingly establishing himself as a cultural figure off the court. His new hairstyle is the most recent proof of that. Every public appearance he makes generates considerable attention.
The comparison to Drake, however surprising, speaks to the player’s cultural impact. In just a few years, he has become far more than a tennis player. And his ability to keep his audience guessing shows no sign of slowing down.
His return in Cincinnati will be watched very closely, for his performances on court, of course, but also for the style he now wears with unmistakable confidence.
