Carlos Alcaraz became an unexpected talking point at the U.S. Open on Monday when viewers and fans in the stands noticed his nipple repeatedly slipping into view beneath his shirt.
By Friday afternoon, the wardrobe issue was no longer part of the show during his straight-sets third-round victory, but the Spanish star still managed to send tennis fans into a frenzy.
Following his 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win over Wu Yibing at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Alcaraz removed both his shirt and undershirt, briefly exposing his full torso courtside.
Spectators seated near the front rows quickly raised their phones to record the moment involving the men’s No. 2 seed, with at least one fan appearing visibly stunned, mouth wide open.
Alcaraz had already drawn attention in the opening round with an outfit created in collaboration with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Nike brand, which repeatedly left his right nipple exposed during the match.
He explained that he added an undershirt because “I think I saw my nipple too much lately.”
“I felt like, you know, I could hide it for at least one match,” Alcaraz added.
Alcaraz, the defending champ at the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam, said that having the extra shirt on today wasn’t a bother to him.
“I feel really comfortable, you know, with another shirt. So I think I’m going to stay like that,” he said. “Maybe, you know, the second round was, a little bit distracting for me, but not that much.”
Undershirt or not, Alcaraz has looked true to form in this year’s U.S. Open, having lost just one set through his first three matches.
He’ll face his biggest test of the tournament so far on Sunday when he faces No. 20 seed American Tommy Paul.