Carlos Alcaraz debuts moustache during warm-up ahead of Shanghai Masters on October 10, 2026
Carlos Alcaraz sported a new moustache during his warm-up ahead of his tournament debut at the Shanghai Masters on October 10, 2026. The Spanish player’s change of appearance drew attention at the event before play began.
Alcaraz arrived in Shanghai fresh from winning the Japan Open in Tokyo, where the 23-year-old defeated Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final on October 6 to successfully defend his crown and claim his third tour-level title of the 2026 season. The moustache is the latest alteration to a sequence of style changes that have attracted notice from fans. Social media reaction was swift, including a post by Tennis TV that read: "Moustache Carlos How do we like it? @carlosalcaraz #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/2Qb6EloMfe— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 10, 2026."
Over the past year Alcaraz has frequently changed his haircut and overall look. At the 2025 French Open he sported a shorter, closely cropped haircut after his barber, Victor Martinez, travelled to Paris to give him a fresh look. Later in 2025 he turned up at the US Open with a buzz cut following a mishap when his brother attempted to use clippers, leaving him little choice but to shave his head.
That US Open transformation prompted discussion among fans and fellow players, including Frances Tiafoe. By 2026 Alcaraz had embraced longer hair and experimented with braids. Ahead of the Tokyo tournament, he admitted that he was considering another haircut, saying he wanted to try something different and find a style that suited him best.
Reports from Shanghai indicate members of his coaching and support staff have joined in on the moustache experiment. The facial-hair change was visible during his pre-match warm-up before his tournament debut, adding a fresh talking point to his arrival in China.
Alcaraz is chasing his first Shanghai Masters title, having reached the quarter-finals in 2024 but never progressed further at the tournament, and he missed the event in 2025. His appearance in Shanghai follows the Tokyo victory and contributes to a season of on-court success paired with frequent changes to his appearance.
Fresh from his Tokyo triumph, the Spaniard will hope to carry his winning momentum into Shanghai and strengthen his position in the closing stages of the season.