Arthur Fils Tells Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli to Stick to Their Normal Hairstyles After Cornrows Experiment

Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters, which he won last year after receiving the walkover from Jannik Sinner.

Arthur Fils Tells Carlos Alcaraz and Flavio Cobolli to Stick to Their Normal Hairstyles After Cornrows Experiment

Background: Arthur Fils; In circle: Flavio Cobolli (left), Carlos Alcaraz (right) (Image via X/TennisTV, Instagram/Flavio Cobolli, Carlos Alcaraz)

After quite a few poor performances and mid-match retirements as well as withdrawals from tournaments, Arthur Fils has got back to winning ways. He is competing at the Canadian Open and has reached the fourth round, following an easy win over Mariano Navone.

After the match, the Frenchman sat for an interview with Tennis Channel, and there, Prakash Amritraj told him he had a “swag-related question,” which was about the cornrows trend.

Fils sported the cornrows during this year’s Miami Open, where his run ended with a straight-set defeat to eventual runner-up Jiri Lehecka. Then, toward the end of July, Flavio Cobolli also braided his hair during vacation following his opening-round defeat in Umag.

The latest player to debut braids was none other than Carlos Alcaraz, who loves experimenting with hairstyles. Alcaraz shared a July photo dump on his Instagram, which also included pictures of his new look. Fils, when asked about Alcaraz and Cobolli’s hairstyles, jokingly told them to stick to their normal hair.

Man, you put me on the spot right now. Well, it’s cool that they’re trying. It’s good to try. But I like more Flavio with his normal hair, and I like Carlos with his normal hair… Spanish hair, very nice. And just leave me the cornrows.

Alcaraz is no longer sporting the cornrows as he returned to practice session with long wavy locks. When the seven-time Grand Slam champion changed his hairstyle, many fans thought this was a sign that he would indeed be making his comeback in Cincinnati. But Alcaraz ended up withdrawing from the tournament.

Alcaraz injured his wrist during the Barcelona Open and has not yet played a tournament, skipping both the French Open and Wimbledon. At the Canadian Open, top players like Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are also not competing. And with Alexander Zverev‘s opening-round exit, the draw has opened up, and Fils will be hoping to win his career’s first Big Title.

The 22-year-old will be facing Cameron Norrie in the fourth round. The Brit upset third seed Alex de Minaur in his third-round match. Fils is a two-time semifinalist in Masters 1000s, reaching the stage in this year’s Miami Open and Madrid Open. The winner of Fils versus Norrie will face Jiri Lehecka or Spanish sensation Rafael Jodar.

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Greg Rusedski believes Carlos Alcaraz will withdraw from the US Open

Because Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Cincinnati Masters, former British No.1 Greg Rusedski said he is convinced the 23-year-old would end up skipping the US Open as well. Rusedski also said Alcaraz should take as much time as he needs to heal properly to avoid aggravating the injury because wrist injuries have derailed the careers of high-profile players.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via ATP Tour)

You can count the US Open out now. There is no way he’s gonna play in the US Open if he’s missing Cincinnati. I was questioning where he was at a bit when we saw him hitting with juniors, but it looked pretty good with the movement, the strike, the new hairdo. Everything was looking good. Then we get this news.

Greg Rusedski said on his Off Court with Greg podcast

Alcaraz received the walkover from defending champion Jannik Sinner in last year’s Cincinnati Masters final. Then at the US Open, he beat Sinner to win his second title in the tournament.

If this was just a little bit of inflammation, a little problem, he would be back by now. It’s something a little bit more serious. We don’t know if he’s had a tear, whether it’s something more, whether he’s had a little bit of surgery in there. Who knows what’s happened?

Greg Rusedski added

Alcaraz has won two titles from three finals this year. He clinched the Australian Open and the Qatar Open, and lost the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Also read: Andrea Petkovic Explains Why Alexandra Eala Reminds Her of Jannik Sinner: “She’s So Emotionally Stable”