Key Takeaways
- Carlos Alcaraz sported a new mustache in Shanghai following a pre-tournament bet with his team before Tokyo.
- The wager required Alcaraz and his entire camp to grow facial hair if he emerged victorious at the event.
- Alcaraz stated that he plans to keep the facial hair for at least a week while competing in Shanghai.
A lighthearted bet shapes Carlos Alcaraz’s appearance
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz brought an unexpected new style to the court in Shanghai, debuting a mustache that quickly drew attention during his post-match duties. The four-time Grand Slam champion explained that the fresh facial hair originated from an agreement made with his coaching camp prior to his recent run in Tokyo.
According to Alcaraz, the bet required everyone in his traveling party to grow facial hair if he captured the tournament title. Having achieved success leading into the Shanghai event, the Spaniard followed through on the dare alongside his team members.
The new look is set to remain for now
Asked about the decision to display the look during competition, Alcaraz confirmed that he planned to keep it in place for the immediate future. “It’ll stay for a week,” he remarked during his interview, noting that playing with facial hair had been a long-held ambition.
The atmosphere surrounding the transformation has remained cheerful throughout his team camp. Alcaraz explained that the group is fully embracing the comedic aspect of the situation, adding, “We’re laughing about it, we’re having fun with it.”
ATP Shanghai - Carlos Alcaraz's projected path
Alcaraz in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2026
Now ranked no.3, Alcaraz achieved a composed 34-4 match record in 2026. Alcaraz is competing in Shanghai where he defeated the world no.55 Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 6-3.
Carlos Alcaraz will come up against the world no.9 Alex De Minaur in the Round Robin on Unknown at 5:00 pm on Court 1. Their head to head is 6-0 for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz has won 3 titles in 2026 at the Australian Open, Doha and Tokyo.
The Spaniard won 28 titles in his career: 11 on hard courts, 11 on clay courts, 2 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
