Carlos Alcaraz, the young tennis sensation, recently stole the spotlight with his historic triumph. He shocked audiences with his dramatic new buzzcut. To prepare for this historic moment, Alcaraz had his haircut from his longtime barber Víctor Martínez. Now, controversy is raging amongst fans about it. That change has captivated social media, spurring a newfound fame on Martinez’s barber shop and the subsequent transformation.
Víctor Martínez, Alcaraz’s sole barber for the last few years now, has become somewhat of an internet celebrity. He follows him to places such as Paris and Valencia as Alcaraz plays on the global tennis circuit. Their shared bond with each other goes far past simple haircuts, it’s turned into a ritual that gets Alcaraz ready for his matches. Prior to each tournament, Martínez will sit down with Alcaraz. He measures and tests Alcaraz’s emotion to ensure he’s in tip top condition before hitting the road.
Alcaraz’s choice to initially go with a buzzcut was largely due to the influence of his brother, Álvaro. The two brothers debated the idea before Alcaraz finally chose to follow through and apply.
“I asked Carlos about what had happened, and he told me the culprit was his brother Álvaro,” – Víctor Martínez
A Surge in Popularity
Martínez has been cutting hair for more than 10 years, but ever since Alcaraz became one of his clients, business has exploded. Once Alcaraz debuted his new look, Martínez’s Instagram account lit up with inquiries. Fans inundated Jones with support, calling it the best haircut ever and asking how they could get one. Though plenty of haters have told him to pack their bags and go home, Martínez takes a jokey approach to the haters.
“Carlos and I laugh about the bad comments. Carlos keeps coming to me to cut his hair because it’s good, because he likes it,” – Víctor Martínez
While some comments were less than flattering, many saw the buzzcut as a bold move that could even enhance Alcaraz’s performance on the court. Fellow tennis star Frances Tiafoe even weighed in on the new buzzcut, saying it was “horrendous.” He joked further that it might even make Alcaraz more aerodynamic on the court.
Martínez is enjoying the publicity that’s come from the haircut debate, knowing that all publicity is good publicity when it comes to business even bad.
“At the end of the day, the bad comments are also good because they create publicity,” – Víctor Martínez
The Barber’s Journey
Martínez remembers being a little freaked out the first time Alcaraz came into his shop. That early relationship apprehension has quickly morphed into a relaxing sibling-like friendship. He treats Alcaraz like any other client, emphasizing that when the tennis star arrives at the shop, he is “just another guy.” This way of relating has encouraged a beautiful, authentic friendship to blossom between them.
His success has shot him out of his original location as the barber now has to think about moving to a bigger space to handle his booming clientele. Now, it’s his customers who travel to his salon, asking for “the Carlos haircut.” This is just one example of how far Alcaraz’s influence extends outside of the tennis court.
“It’s incredible because people in another part of the world are talking about you and your work,” – Víctor Martínez
Having just turned 20 years old, Alcaraz is preparing to defend his US Open title, which he won in 2022. He depends on Martínez to keep his high-top style sharp and his mind right.
A New Chapter Ahead
Regardless of the fame tornado that follows these players around, both Alcaraz and Martínez are humble. Behind it all, the bond between these two is palpable as they both deal with the soaring highs and devastating lows of public judgment. Ever since the start of Alcaraz’s career, he has come under fire. Still, he’s done so while winning five Grand Slam singles titles at the tender age of 22.
While looking ahead to more tournaments to come, both he and Martínez realize that their partnership is one-of-a-kind. The relationship between an athlete and a barber is not just a functional relationship. It’s a relationship based on trust and respect.
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