A Haircut Heard Around the World
When world No. 2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz stepped onto the US Open stage with a freshly shaved buzzcut, the tennis world erupted.
But behind the jokes, memes, and hot takes is another story: that of his loyal barber, Víctor Martínez, who has unexpectedly found himself in the spotlight.
For years, Martínez has been the man behind Alcaraz’s signature look—short on the sides, volume on top, a cut so popular that young fans now walk into his shop asking for “the Carlos.”
But with fame came criticism. Online trolls have mocked his work, sometimes viciously.
“I don’t take it personally. Carlos and I just laugh at the comments,” Martínez told CNN Sports.
From Local Barber to Global Recognition
Martínez’s shop sits in El Palmar, a modest town outside Murcia, Spain. For over a decade, he worked quietly, cutting the hair of locals.
That all changed the day a friend called to say a teenage tennis prodigy was coming by.
“That first time, I was so nervous my hands were shaking,” he remembers. “He was already world No. 1 at the time.”
Since then, Alcaraz has remained a loyal client, calling Martínez for every cut before tournaments. The two have built such trust that the barber often travels to cities like Paris and Valencia to keep his client sharp on tour.
The Buzzcut Mystery
But here’s the twist: Alcaraz’s striking new buzzcut wasn’t Martínez’s work at all.
“New York was too far,” Alcaraz admitted. “I thought my hair was too long before the tournament, and my brother Álvaro tried to trim it. The machine slipped, and the only way to fix it was to shave it all.”
The result shocked fans, fellow players, and even his barber.
“I asked Carlos who did it, and he laughed and said, ‘My brother.’ I told him I need to have a word with Álvaro!” Martínez joked.
Even fellow pro Frances Tiafoe chimed in, calling it “horrendous” but joking that it might make Alcaraz more aerodynamic.
Criticism, Fame, and the Barber’s Perspective
For Martínez, the harsh comments online have a silver lining: they’ve made him famous.
“At the end of the day, even bad comments are good because they create publicity,” he says.
From a small-town barbershop to being known by tennis fans worldwide, the journey has been surreal.
“It makes me happy, because people now know me and my work all over the world—thanks to Carlos,” he adds.
Will Alcaraz Stick With the Buzzcut?
So, will the world No. 2 stick with the shaved look? His barber doubts it.
“He’s not going to do this again,” Martínez insists with a smile.
For now, fans will keep debating the haircut. But one thing is certain: behind every champion is a team that shapes their image—and sometimes, that team includes a humble barber from Murcia who never imagined his scissors would cut their way into the global spotlight.
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