If Julian Farrell’s plane hadn’t been delayed, Carlos Alcaraz might still have a beautiful hairstyle.
“I was supposed to cut his hair,” a stylist from Debonair, who missed his flight from Palm Beach, explained. “Then his brother ended up doing it. I walked in and thought, ‘Well, it’s fine!’”
Alcaraz, who is 22, shared that his brother had grabbed the clippers by mistake. “He thought he was using a different machine,” he told reporters on Monday. “So, the only fix was to shave it. Honestly, it’s not that bad.”
American player Francis Tiafoe had his own take on the situation. “Yeah, that’s a bit scary. I mean, it looks pretty bad,” he remarked. “But it’s my guy—kind of funny. I look at him and think, hey, you look aerodynamic.”
Farrell, who has been styling players’ hair at the US Open for 17 years, had a different perspective. “His brother did a decent job,” he insisted. “Hair grows back anyway—about a month or so.”
Farrell, known for his $1,250 cuts at his renowned Park Avenue Salon, was on hand at the annual US Open pop-up salon. Situated within Arthur Ashe Stadium, the salon offers free hairstyles, blowouts, braids, nail services, and more to players, coaches, and VIPs. Over the course of two weeks, his team will cater to around 500 people without requiring appointments, given the busy schedules of athletes.
For several years, Farrell has worked with big names like Novak Djokovic, Alina Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, and others. Interestingly, after he gave Rafael Nadal a trim back in 2010, Nadal went on to win the tournament—his first Grand Slam victory. “We’ve become a bit of a lucky charm,” Farrell joked. “But beyond that, it’s a space for athletes to unwind and de-stress.”
As an avid tennis fan and player himself, Farrell noted Djokovic’s relaxed demeanor. “He gets his haircut just an hour before a match,” he said, impressed. “He’s so calm. He’ll say, ‘It’s 6:00, and I have a game at 7:00. Can I get a haircut?’ It’s like he’s in no rush.”
Farrell works efficiently; many players leave the salon with still-damp hair.
Overall, the salon has become a hidden gem at the event.
