The Spanish tennis phenom loves to play with his hair, and his latest outing at the Shanghai Masters was no exception. Unfortunately it didn't help him win.
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When Carlos Alcaraz began competing in the Shanghai Masters earlier this month, we wondered what hairstyle he’d display next. Some (yes, GQ) have said that he never looked better since he rocked long, wavy hair at the US Open this summer. His subsequent top knot at the Laver Cup didn’t totally win us over. But no hairstyle sticks around for very long. This past weekend, as he progressed to the third round of the tournament, he showed off a faint, neatly trimmed pencil mustache
Alcaraz debuted his facial hair in a match off against Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo, whom he then beat in straight sets. Alcaraz paired the look with a five o’clock shadow for an indie sleaze vibe. “I’ve always wanted to step on the court at least once with a mustache,” the Spanish superstar said in a televised interview at the end of the match. “So before Tokyo I was like: ‘If I win the tournament, I have to play Shanghai with the mustache.’” Eagle-eyed tennis fans might remember Alcaraz huddling with his team at the Japan Open, which he won for the second year in a row earlier in October. At the end of the match, he and his posse cheered: “¡Bigotes para todos!” (translation: “mustaches for everyone”).
What might’ve sparked Alcaraz’s interest in growing out a ‘stache? Beyond trying out every kind of hairstyle known to man, it could be the fact that mustaches in many forms—especially the skinny ones—have been trending for some time. Everyone from Benson Boone to Jacob Elordi have flirted with the facial hair over the past few years. Alcaraz's is pencil-like and neat, extending from one corner of his mouth to the other.
It’s nice to see his brother, agent, and head coach all kept their word and also grew ‘staches in solidarity. The facial hair is a winning look for Alcaraz, but unfortunately did not translate to a win on the court. He was eliminated today by the Belgian Zizou Bergs. What this means for the ‘stache is anyone’s guess, but considering the warm reception, it’s quite possible it might stay for the long run.
Tyler Chin is GQ's associate wellness & grooming editor. He'll occasionally dabble in the menswear space, but otherwise you'll usually catch him trying out new headphones, lifting in fresh workout gear, or testing out the latest and greatest in skin care. Before he ended up at GQ, he worked at ... Read More