There was more than just tennis to dicuss around Carlos Alcaraz’s return to the court for his first singles competition in four-and-a-half months.
U.S. Open viewers couldn’t help but be distracted by the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s nipple that kept peaking out of his Nike kit.
Alcaraz sported a brown basketball jersey-type tank top that shifted easily throughout his first-round match against Roman Safiullin in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.
The kit was a collaboration with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Nike brand and the rapper was in the stands for the match.
The wardrobe malfunction became a viral clip on social media and had fans going wild.
“Nike slutting Alcaraz out IMMEDIATELY upon his return with this sleeveless gym rat top that continually has them nips out. They knew he had one chance to retake the tennis world, looking strong and sexy and DELIVERED,” an X user wrote.
“Carlitos said free the nipple,” another wrote.
“they’re looking at me with eyes wide open,” a third wrote.
“I love Alcaraz. I hate his outfit. Put your nipples away,” someone else chimed in.
Recently retired Canadian tennis pro and current analyst for ESPN for the hard court slam, Eugenie Bouchard, took to X to react to the viral slip.
“Love you Carlos but we’ve got to put the nip away,” she wrote.
Alcaraz wore a similar top for the mixed doubles event alongside Serena Williams last week, but there were no nipple flashes in the purple kit.
He also showed off his new long hair, held back by a headband in a completely new look.
It topped off quite the return for Alcaraz, who has been sidelined since April with a wrist injury suffered in Barcelona. He sat out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and he withdrew from the Cincinnati Open in August as his team has been very cautious in ramping up the 23-year-old.
Thus, it was quite the surprise when Alcaraz declared he was ready to play in New York.
Despite the early nerves with a double fault to start the match, a healthy Alcaraz put on a solid performance in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win.
“It was a difficult day for me, to be honest, but at the same time, a really beautiful one,” he said after the match. “Starting the day really nervous; really, really nervous, thinking I’m going to make it, I’m going to compete again. … I had more nerves than usual. But just happy because, for me, my goal here is to compete, to enjoy, and let’s see how my body’s going to react after the matches, after the competition again.”
Alcaraz moves on to face Portuguese star Jaime Faria in the second round after defeating American Jenson Brooksby in a five-set battle on Sunday.
