Carlos Alcaraz’s year on tour delivered few on-court setbacks, but his changing hairstyles provided plenty of conversation off court. What began at the US Open in August with a headline-grabbing buzzcut evolved into a platinum-blonde transformation two weeks after that, and players were quick to weigh in throughout the season.

Ahead of his New York campaign, Alcaraz decided not to fly his personal barber, Victor Martínez, to the tournament as he had at Roland Garros. He instead trusted a close shave to his brother Álvaro, who “misunderstood the machine.” The result prompted the world No. 1 to walk onto Arthur Ashe Stadium for his first-round match against Reilly Opelka with a buzzcut “down to his skull.” Alcaraz later conceded, “The only way to fix it is just to shave it off.” He was nonetheless dismissive of the fuss, calling the trim “not that bad.”

His peers were less forgiving. Frances Tiafoe offered a withering appraisal and then softened it with affection.

“I mean, it’s definitely terrible. He’s my guy though. It’s funny. I looked at him and I was like, I guess you’re aerodynamic.

Juan Carlos “Mosquito” was laughing. He was like, ‘Yeah, he’s faster than he already was.’ I was like, ‘Well, that’s a problem.’

Yeah, I don’t know who told him that it’s good. I don’t know who told him to do that, but it’s terrible. From a guy who gets haircuts week in, week out, and prides myself on good haircuts, it’s horrendous.

At the end of the day, it’s Carlos, and that’s my guy. But yeah, he needs to get with me. He needs to get with me for sure. Frances Tiafoe”

After defeating Jannik Sinner to earn his second US Open title, Alcaraz allowed his buzzcut to grow out and then debuted a striking platinum dye job. Two weeks later at the Laver Cup, opinion among players was split: some knew about the change early, others remained skeptical, but the consensus was clear—Alcaraz’s hair had become one of the season’s most talked-about topics. Take it from Alex Michelsen.

Leylah Fernandez could not hide her excitement when Venus Williams agreed at the last minute to join her as a wild-card doubles partner at the US Open. The pairing, announced the day after Williams lost to Karolina Muchova, made Fernandez just the 10th player other than Serena to team up with Venus.

The 45-year-old Williams had been one of the summer’s biggest stories. After becoming the second-oldest woman to win a WTA main-draw match when she defeated Peyton Stearns in Washington, D.C., she arrived in New York having spent 16 months on the sidelines and was pain-free for the first time. Williams entered three events in all, starting with the reimagined mixed doubles event with Reilly Opelka and competing in women’s singles as well.

After going 0-2 in the mixed and singles draws, and pushing Muchova to a three-set match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, Venus’ decision to pair with Fernandez produced one of the tournament’s most memorable feel-good stories. Fernandez recalled her reaction plainly: “I was like a kid on Christmas day just jumping around. I was so happy. I don’t think I stopped smiling for the whole night and even in the morning. I was just super happy and excited. Leylah Fernandez”

The wild-card duo won three consecutive matches and energized Flushing Meadows for more than a week, their on-court chemistry obvious. Williams described how the opportunity came about in a recent vlog: “I wasn’t going to play, then apparently Leylah’s partner pulled out at the last minute,” the former world No. 1 recalled in a recent vlog posted on her YouTube channel. “I walked off the court after my singles match thinking I can finally relax. I played the best I could, I was proud of my efforts, and I never really feel that way, but I was already kind of out. The next thing I know, it’s like ‘Can you play?

“I was thinking no, because whenever I would play with players in the past, they would get so tight, they just weren’t able to perform, so I don’t need that in my life. But on the way home, I was like, maybe I’ll give it a try.”

Their run ended against No. 1 seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, but the partnership left a clear mark on the tournament and on Fernandez herself.

Eric Butorac will replace Stacey Allaster as the U.S. Open tournament director, the U.S. Tennis Association announced Monday.

Butorac has served as the USTA’s senior director of players relations and business development and led this year’s new mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open as tournament director. He joined the USTA in 2016 and previously oversaw the Cincinnati Open in 2022 as tournament director.

A former professional player for 14 years, Butorac reached the top 20 in the ATP doubles rankings and was a doubles finalist at the 2014 Australian Open. He also held the role of ATP player council president during his playing career.

“This is, in many ways, a dream come true and the culmination of my life and career in tennis,” Butorac said.

Brian Vahaly, interim co-CEO of the USTA, praised Butorac’s impact on the tournament. “Eric has been instrumental in strengthening the U.S. Open experience for both players and fans, and his leadership, insight and passion for the game make him the ideal person to guide the next chapter of the tournament’s success,” Vahaly said.

Allaster became the U.S. Open tournament director in 2020 and was the first woman to hold that position in the tournament’s history dating back to 1881. She has worked at the USTA since 2016 and prior to that served as chairman and CEO of the WTA women’s professional tennis tour.

The appointment follows Butorac’s work within the USTA and his recent experience directing major events, including the mixed doubles addition at the U.S. Open and his role in Cincinnati, signaling a transition in leadership at one of the sport’s Grand Slam events.