Carlos Alcaraz’s haircut gives David Beckham vibes, gets a standing ovation (and some side-eye) online

Carlos Alcaraz might be known for his blistering forehands and the fact that he’s already a Grand Slam champion at just 21, but right now, the spotlight isn’t on his tennis. It’s on his hair.

Yep, the Spanish sensation turned heads with a fresh cut, he had for the US Open Tennis, that has the internet buzzing, and let’s just say the comparisons to Sir David Beckham came faster than one of his serves.The US Open Tennis Championships, August 18- September 8 is the grand finale of the tennis calendar’s four Grand Slams, held annually in New York City at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Known for its electric atmosphere, night matches under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights, and passionate New York crowd, the US Open is where legends are made and upsets are born.

It’s also famous for embracing innovation, from using Hawk-Eye line-calling technology to introducing tiebreakers.

Beyond the tennis, it’s a cultural event, blending sport, celebrity appearances, and entertainment, making it one of America’s most iconic sporting spectacles.Social media exploded as soon as Alcaraz debuted the look. Fans were split between showering him with love and throwing a little playful shade.

Some praised him for finally stepping into the “style era” of his career, while others joked that the trim looked like it was “done in a rush between practice sets.” Either way, Alcaraz managed to grab headlines for something other than his performance on court, which, let’s be real, is very Beckham of him.

Because if there’s one athlete who knows how a haircut can become a cultural moment, it’s David Beckham. From the buzz cut that defined the early 2000s, to the fauxhawk that every teenager tried to copy, to the man-bun phase that still gets debated, Beckham’s hairstyles were never just about hair.

They were statements. And now, Alcaraz seems to be dipping a toe into that same territory.

The internet can't cope with this new style

"Carlos Alcaraz: This new look guarantees me a US Open title. Jannik Sinner: Hold my beer," writes urbanmyths. "That’s insanely disrespectful to David Beckham," chimes in another X user. In a video that is going viral, fans couldn't stop noticing the meme-worthy expression of Frances Tiafoe. "Frances Tiafoe’s reaction to Carlos Alcaraz’s new haircut at the U.S.

Open. He can’t stop staring at his head," writes one user. "Tiafoe really is me when someone does something noticeably different to their appearance, I literally can’t help it," writes another.

Carlos Alcatraz!

Some fans aren’t just seeing Beckham vibes in Carlos Alcaraz’s new haircut — they’re seeing Alcatraz. Yep, Twitter had a field day joking that the tennis star looks like he just stepped off the set of Prison Break. The close crop and sharp edges had people calling it “straight out of solitary.”

It’s all in good fun, of course, but the jokes show how one haircut can spark everything from fashion debates to prison-yard memes.

Alcaraz’s look definitely isn’t flying under the radar.For Alcaraz, who has often been described as laser-focused on his tennis with little interest in distractions, this could signal a more playful side of his public persona. Athletes at his level eventually become global brands, and a big part of that is the image they project.

Just ask Beckham, who built an empire as much on his off-field style as on his legendary free kicks.And honestly, this haircut moment shows how much Alcaraz is growing into his role as not just a tennis star, but a cultural figure. You don’t get compared to Beckham lightly. It’s a nod that your influence is starting to stretch beyond the sport, into lifestyle, fashion, and the online chatter that keeps your name trending even when you’re not lifting a trophy.Whether you love it, hate it, or find it somewhere in between, the point is this: Carlos Alcaraz is no longer just the kid from Murcia smashing forehands. He’s a headline-maker, a trend-starter, and now, apparently, a haircut icon-in-the-making.