Carlos Alcaraz’s game isn’t the only thing turning heads — his on‑court style is just as commanding. Once named GQ’s “Most Stylish Tennis Players of All Time,” the seven‑time Grand Slam champion unveiled a fresh look at this year’s US Open. As he stepped onto the court in a bold purple‑and‑orange basketball-inspired Nike jersey for his mixed doubles match with Serena Williams, it was clear he has traded last year’s platinum blonde buzz cut for long flowing locks. But that was just the beginning.
Hours before his singles debut, Nike dropped a high‑octane promo film featuring longtime collaborator Travis Scott. The film cuts between close‑ups of Scott, sparks from a lighter, and Alcaraz poised for battle, all accompanied by a voiceover hyping up the Spaniard’s return. “You can either crash and burn or burn it all down,” says Scott in the monologue. “But shit, knowing you? The only way you come in cold, is to come in hot.”
Soon after, Alcaraz walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium for his first‑round clash against Roman Safiullin. Gone was the mesh basketball jersey; in its place was a custom Cactus Jack × Nike kit featuring a brown‑to‑white ombré vest with white‑trim shorts, and a new headline‑grabbing pair of sneakers.
The shoes, also rendered in brown and white, were the centrepiece of the look. Officially dubbed the Travis Scott × Cactus Jack × Nike Zoom Vapor 12 HC, they are the first pro‑level tennis shoe to feature Scott’s iconic reverse swoosh. Whether this outfit is a one‑off or his look for the rest of the tournament remains to be seen. But under Scott’s watchful eye from the VIP box, Alcaraz swept Safiullin in straight sets 6‑4, 6‑4, 6‑4. It sounds like the champion is back!
Translated by Alyanna Raissa J. Payos
