Watch: Fans go wild as Carlos Alcaraz takes off shirt at US Open 2026
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
This happened during his third-round match against China’s Wu Yibing
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain gave fans plenty to talk about at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday at the US Open, and this time it had nothing to do with his tennis. The defending champion cruised past China’s Wu Yibing 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the fourth round, but the moment that lit up social media came right after the final point, when he pulled off both his shirt and undershirt in front of the crowd.
Phones shot up instantly across the front rows. Several fans were caught on camera with their jaws dropped, recording the 23-year-old Spaniard as he stood shirtless for a few seconds before heading off court. Clips of the moment spread quickly online, with many users joking about the reaction from the stands.
The win itself was not entirely smooth. Wu, currently ranked 113 in the world, pushed Alcaraz hard in the opening two sets, using his forehand to control several long rallies.
Alcaraz lost his break advantage twice before pulling clear, eventually needing just one hour and 47 minutes to close out the match. The win extended his unbeaten run at Grand Slams to 17 matches — the best streak of his career.
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Why did Alcaraz take his shirt off after the match?
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Alcaraz later explained why he wore an undershirt for Friday’s match. “I think I saw my nipple too much lately,” he said, referring to the wardrobe issue that had followed him through the tournament’s opening round. “I felt like, you know, I could hide it for at least one match,” he added.
He also said the extra layer might become a regular part of his kit going forward. “I feel really comfortable, you know, with another shirt. So, I think I’m going to stay like that,” Alcaraz said.
On the earlier incident that drew attention during his second-round match, he downplayed how much it had actually affected him. “Maybe, you know, the second round was a little bit distracting for me, but not that much,” he said.
His outfit for this year’s tournament, a collaboration between Nike and Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack label, has already drawn attention for reasons beyond fashion.
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With the win, Alcaraz continues his comeback from a right wrist injury that kept him off tour since April. This marks his first tournament back, and he has dropped only one set through three rounds. He is set to face American 20th seed Tommy Paul on Sunday, in what will be his toughest test of the tournament so far.
Why did Carlos Alcaraz take his shirt off after the match?
He had just finished celebrating a straight-sets win over Wu Yibing and removed both his shirt and undershirt on court, a moment that was caught on camera by several fans in the front rows
Why was Alcaraz wearing an undershirt during his third-round match?
He wore an extra layer to avoid a repeat of a wardrobe issue from his opening round.
How many singles US Open titles has Carlos Alcaraz won?
Carlos Alcaraz has two singles US Open titles — 2022 and 2025.
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