The Spanish star marked his return to Shanghai with an impressive 6–3, 6–3 victory over Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo on Saturday, 10 October, reaching the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Alcaraz reveals the moustache bet
Alcaraz’s new look attracted attention before his opening match, with members of his team also sporting moustaches as part of the playful challenge.
The agreement was made before the Tokyo tournament: if Alcaraz won the title, the group would grow moustaches for their Shanghai campaign.
After completing his victory over Cerúndolo, the Spaniard confirmed that the moustache would remain for the rest of the Chinese tournament.
“We're going to keep it for the whole tournament,” Alcaraz explained, adding that the team had enjoyed the experience.
Spaniard impresses in Shanghai opener
Away from the change in appearance, Alcaraz delivered a confident performance against Cerúndolo, winning in just 66 minutes.
The Spaniard adapted to the quick court conditions by taking an aggressive approach, frequently moving forward to the net and using his touch to put pressure on his opponent.
Alcaraz acknowledged that the transition from Tokyo to Shanghai had presented a challenge, particularly because the conditions were different and he had limited preparation time.
However, his performance extended his winning run to seven matches following his successful title defence in Tokyo.
Alcaraz targets a strong Shanghai campaign
The Shanghai Masters remains one of the major titles Alcaraz is yet to win. The Spaniard reached the quarter-finals in 2024 and is aiming to make a deeper run this time.
He also has an opportunity to become the first Spanish man to win the Shanghai title.
For now, Alcaraz will look to carry his strong form into the next round, while his moustache — and the team bet behind it — provides an unusual talking point during his campaign.
With confidence growing after his Tokyo success, the world-class Spaniard will hope his new look becomes part of a memorable week in China.