The Hair Game at the US Open: More Than Just Tennis
In a charming twist of tennis fate, Julien Farel’s delayed flight from Palm Beach inadvertently led to one of the US Open’s more memorable haircuts. Carlos Alcaraz, the young Spanish tennis star, ended up with a surprisingly short buzz cut after his brother’s clipper mishap. “Suddenly he just misunderstood with the machine,” Alcaraz explained to the press, adding with good humor, “the only way to fix it is just shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that bad, I guess.” While fellow player Frances Tiafoe playfully described the cut as “horrible” and “definitely terrible,” he added with friendly jest that at least Alcaraz was now “aerodynamic.” This lighthearted hairstyle drama reveals the human side of professional tennis that fans rarely witness – top athletes dealing with the same everyday mishaps as the rest of us, just under the global spotlight of a Grand Slam tournament.
Julien Farel, the renowned French stylist behind this story, brings a touch of luxury to the tennis world through his annual US Open pop-up salon inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. At his permanent locations on Park Avenue in New York and in Palm Beach, Farel commands $1,250 per haircut, serving an exclusive clientele. Yet at the tournament, his team provides complimentary services to players, coaches, executives, and VIPs – transforming a corner of the sports complex into a sanctuary of style and relaxation. The pop-up salon handles approximately 500 people during the two-week tournament, offering not just haircuts but also blowouts, braiding, styling, manicures, and pedicures. Despite the potential chaos of walk-ins only and no appointments, Farel’s team has mastered the art of accommodating busy athletes’ unpredictable schedules, creating what he describes as a “stress-free moment” amid the high-pressure tournament environment.
The relationship between tennis performance and personal grooming took on a nearly mystical quality back in 2010 when Farel gave Rafael Nadal a shorter cut just before the Spaniard went on to win the US Open for the first time, completing his career Grand Slam. “We became a good luck charm after that,” Farel recalls with a smile. This coincidence helped cement the salon’s reputation among superstitious players, though most simply appreciate the convenience and luxury of professional grooming during the grueling tournament schedule. Over the years, Farel’s skilled hands have styled an impressive roster of tennis royalty: Novak Djokovic, Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, Iga Świątek, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, Coco Gauff, and many others have all visited the pop-up for touch-ups and transformations between their matches.
The salon offers a unique window into the personalities and pre-match routines of tennis stars. Novak Djokovic, for instance, impressed Farel with his remarkable composure, often scheduling haircuts just an hour before his matches. “He’s so confident,” marvels Farel. “He just says, ‘It’s 6:00, I have a game at 7, can you cut my hair?’ He’s so relaxed and he doesn’t rush you.” This glimpse into Djokovic’s pre-match ritual reveals much about the mental fortitude that has made him one of the greatest players in history – the ability to remain completely present and unhurried even as the clock ticks toward a major match. Other players show different personalities in the salon chair, though Farel maintains the discretion expected of someone who works so intimately with high-profile clients.
In the fast-paced environment of a Grand Slam tournament, efficiency is essential. Farel has adapted his techniques to meet the unique demands of the sporting event, working quickly to accommodate players’ tight schedules. Many athletes leave the salon with wet hair, prioritizing the cut over the styling as they rush to practice sessions, media obligations, or matches. This practical approach underscores the functional rather than purely aesthetic purpose that haircuts serve for many players – helping them feel fresh, reducing maintenance, and eliminating distractions during play. The relationship between player and stylist becomes a small but meaningful part of their tournament routine, a brief moment of normality and personal care amidst the extraordinary pressure of competing at tennis’s highest level.
For all the glamour associated with professional tennis – the endorsement deals, designer outfits, and celebrity status – the story of Alcaraz’s haircut mishap and Farel’s pop-up salon reminds us that beneath it all are human beings navigating both exceptional athletic challenges and everyday concerns. Hair might seem trivial compared to the physical and mental demands of winning a Grand Slam, but personal appearance contributes to players’ confidence and comfort on court. Farel’s salon has become an institution at the US Open, a backstage glimpse at the tournament experience rarely seen by television audiences. As players stream through his doors between matches, the French stylist offers more than just grooming – he provides a moment of relaxation, a boost of confidence, and perhaps even a touch of that good luck charm that worked so well for Nadal. In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, sometimes the right haircut is the ace up a player’s sleeve.
