Since returning from an injury-induced five-month hiatus, Carlos Alcaraz has incited a collective swooning over his hair. A bold typeface headline in GQ proclaims, “This is the coolest Carlos Alcaraz has ever looked”, waxing lyrical about how he’s now “armed with flowing locks.” Alcaraz hasn’t hit yet the singles court, but his pairing with the legendary Serena Williams in the mixed doubles event preceding the US Open captivated the sporting world. They won a match and lost the next, but the results mattered little.
Because the man fans fondly called “Carlitos”, just 23 years old and already owner of seven major titles title, is back playing the sport that has desperately felt his absence. While the admirable efficiency of Jannik Sinner, the relentless valour of Novak Djokovic and the ferocious breakthrough of Alexander Zverev have provided compelling storylines, tennis has been devoid of the joie de vivre that only the precocious Spaniard brings. Alcaraz, undoubtedly, has missed tennis all these months, but let there be no doubt – tennis has missed him as much, if not more.
