New York – Within hours Carlos Alakraj The US Open reached the site on August 25, and before he took the court for his first round match, he became the biggest story of the day.

Not due to his rivalry with World No. 1 Pronounced sinnerOr because he was a favorite for winning the title again. everyone was Talking about your new haircut,

“I mean, it is definitely terrible,” Francis tiafoThe two -time US Open semi -finalist said that after his match with laughter before adding a cavet. “He is my boy.”

In the next 48 hours, it felt like every player on the tour – Naomi Osaka To Alexander zweev To Emma Redukanu To make himself a sinner – was asked about, and Alakraj had an opinion on his hair. Each comment made the internet round, and Alakraj responded to his signature with good nature, Convict your younger brother for a look,

Now, after more than a week, Alakraj’s hair has already started coming back, and has since booked his ticket in the semi-finals, which is after winning at number 20 seeds at number 20 seeds on number 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Jiri Leheka On Tuesday. And while the questions about his cut seem to be faded, this incident gives an attractive reminiscent of how dear he is. While some players are always more popular or acceptable than others in the locker room, very few players of Alkaraz’s caliber, at this stage in their careers, usually hold that distinction.

This answers the question: How can the five-time prominent champion and current world number 2, Alkaraz, how can the tennis court be so frightened for his blistering athleticism, tireless patience and powerful forehand-but can be liked so well by its opponents?

“It is very difficult to pull that balance,” Sam QuareFormer Wimbledon semi-finalist-inflammatory and podcaster told ESPN this week. “Many superstars can’t close it. When that player walks around the lounge, you can make fun of him, and he is very good with everyone. (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal had a little bit, but Carlos seems to have so (quality).

“He is a superstar worldwide, but there are some parts that are just everyday man, and people insist on him.”

Tennis, at its core, Is a deep personal game.

In court, the players are alone. While their coaches and support teams are seated nearby, and they can sometimes give guidance, it eventually comes down to the player and finds a way to win on their own.

Away from competition, players are on the road for most of the year, traveling from hotel room to hotel room and tournament. This can be an isolated experience, and players often spend most of their time with their teams. In the years, many top players have said that they find it very difficult to stay close with their peers.

Five -time prominent champion “It’s hard to be really good friends on tour Maria Sharapova Said in 2011“I find it difficult to dinner with someone a night and then they have to play after two days, as it is a personal game at the end of the day and we are all very competitive … you know that we are not in a team and as far as close friends go, my family comes with me on the street. I don’t roam in the locker room – I am not my favorite place in the world.”

While things have changed in recent years – US Open Breakout Star Taylor Townsand Credible for epidemic to transfer locker room dynamics In an interview with ESPN in 2024 – And Quare insisted that the men’s locker room has always been a friendly place, Alkaraz feels that he is probably not other superstars around his peers.

At the beginning of the tournament, A picture of Alakraj and sinner was circulated An Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan together at Ostria Delbianco. While Alkraj later explained that it was just a coincidence that both of them were there, it was notable that it was reliable that they were together there. The same possibility will not be a matter for Sharapova and say, Serena WilliamsOr Federer and Nadal in the early years of his rivalry.

Prior to retiring in 2022, 37 -year -old Quaree spent a lot of his career around Nadal, Federer and K 3. Novak jokovichAccording to him, Federer was “if it could not be good”, then it was also good, and even “fine with it” if it is mocked, but overall everyone was not naturally cham. Nadal was also attached to his peers, but the language obstruction could make it challenging. As Alakraj has made a deliberate attempt to improve his flow in English, it has allowed them to interact more originally with a large group of players and people around the tour.

“Carlos speaks better English than Rafa,” Quare said. “So, I think he is satire, humor, such things that were difficult with a way.

New York – There has been a lot of talk of “reset” at this year’s US Open. Coco goff used A bathroom brake to reset after a nervous attack During his second round meeting Donna VecicWhereas Daniel Medvedev And Stefanos tsitipusThose who have ended the difficult Grand Slam season, both will now take a reset to bring their career back to the track.

to Australia Alex de meinourWho takes on Wednesday Felix Agar-Aliasime As he tries to reach his first semi -finals in one major, resetting means changing the routine. He will shave, change, where he can go for dinner, change his shoes, all can give the best chance to reset their brain and to succeed.

Martina navratilova And Maria Sharapova It was said that the quarter -finals were to reach when the Grand Slam tournaments were actually started. D Minar says it is two weeks. “The second week of a slam is a completely different dynamic,” D Minaur described ESPN in flushing meadows. “This is the commercial end of the tournament. The way these tournaments work, you know that it is a long journey, so it is good for a mental reset, they are short -term goals and then it is a new tournament. When you know when you know that not far from playing for big title.”

Of course, Dey Minor has a slight routine in the change in the routine. “I always shave before the tournament and then every time I arrive in the new week, I shared again,” said number 8 Seed. “This is my way of mentally reset. I have these small things that I am doing. I am changing shoes, I will have some different tools. It just seems that it is now a go-time, and this is where I want to be where I want to be.

A Grand Slam event in Week Two has a very different place than a week. After the first few days of uproar and stir, when 128 matches are played in men and women’s programs, everything is think in the second week. Locker rooms are empty. Dynamic changes. This is the habit of some players.

“This is quite different in that sense, the whole atmosphere seems a bit different,” said D Minaur. “There are very few players. It’s not that many single players are left. These are more doubles players. Juniors start. It is a very different place.”

One of the most difficult workers on the tour, and perhaps the fastest proposal in a tennis court, D Minaur has been one of the most consistent players for many years, always make some extra discovery to create big success, add power to his service and pop more on his forehand. A stability in the final 16 in the slam, he overturned with an early loss in the French Open to reach the fourth round in Wimbledon.

At this year’s US Open, he has left a set in the final eight-the first Australian man to make a back-to-back quarter-finals at the US Open. Leton HewittWho earned seven in a row from 2000 to 2006, and won the title in 2001.

It has been five years since D Miniur has first reached the last eight in one head, lost Dominic thiemLast Champion at US Open in 2020. Alexander zweev Last year stopped him at the French Open, he had to withdraw through injury before a planned meeting Novak jokovich In Wimbledon, and still less than full fitness when he went out Jack Draper Last year’s US Open. In Australia, he found in early 2025 Pronounced sinner Very strong.

D Minaur’s match will be the first time he has been a favorite, on paper, to reach the semi.

He said, Canadian is playing outstanding tennis in the last one week, third preference Andry RubalvD Minaur also retreats 2–1 in the head with his head, and knows that he will need to find a way to stop the Agar-Aliasim by cutting loose, appreciating that when he is on his game, it is difficult to defeat him.