Alcaraz Beats Cerundolo in Shanghai and Debuts Team Mustaches

Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the third round of the Shanghai Masters after defeating Argentine opponent Juan Martín Cerundolo 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes, while sporting a mustache alongside members of his team in China. The second seed carried momentum from his Tokyo championship earlier in October, with the unusual team appearance honoring a promise made before that tournament.

According to reports from Infobae and Vietnam.vn published on October 12, 2026, Alcaraz controlled the match through effective serving and sustained pressure on Cerundolo. The straight-sets victory extended his progress at Shanghai as he pursued another Masters 1000 title.

The mustaches originated with a team agreement before the Tokyo tournament. Juanjo Moreno, Alcaraz's physiotherapist, proposed that everyone grow a mustache if the Spanish player won the competition. Alcaraz secured the title, turning the playful challenge into a shared commitment that followed the team to Shanghai.

Moreno announced the idea during the celebrations following the Japanese tournament.

"Mustaches for everyone!" exclaimed Juanjo Moreno, Alcaraz's physiotherapist.

Alcaraz later confirmed that the agreement involved the entire team and explained how long they intended to maintain the look during their Shanghai campaign.

"Before the Tokyo tournament, we agreed with the whole team that if I won the tournament, we would all grow mustaches. Everyone. And that's what happened. It's fun to wear a mustache, and we'll keep it that way throughout the tournament week if we reach the final rounds," Alcaraz said.

The Tokyo victory carried additional significance for Alcaraz, who had spent five months away from competition because of an injury, according to Infobae. His return to winning form followed an extended period of recovery and preparation, with the championship providing a milestone shared with the people who supported him.

The Spanish player also discussed his changing clothing choices, explaining that personal style contributes to his comfort and confidence on court. He said he had been testing new outfits and hoped to continue wearing them as he progressed through the tournament.

"If you feel good about what you're wearing, your clothes and your style, everything is much better. You have more confidence and feel better when you step onto the court. I'm changing my style a little now and trying things out to decide which outfit I'll wear on court.

I'm very happy with the new clothes, I feel very comfortable and confident in them. Now it's about playing good tennis and going deep in the tournament so I can wear them as many times as possible," Alcaraz said.

Alcaraz's next scheduled opponent in Shanghai was Belgian player Zizou Bergs, with their match set for Monday in the round of 32. Infobae reported that Alcaraz was seeking his ninth Masters 1000 title as he continued his campaign in China.

Other players also progressed in Shanghai, according to Vietnam.vn. Eighth seed Arthur Fils defeated qualifier Pavel Kotov 6-3, 6-4, while Stefanos Tsitsipas beat 18th seed Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-4 to record the 400th victory of his career. Tsitsipas was set to face Taylor Fritz in the next round.

Casper Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, also advanced after defeating Yunchaokete Bu 6-1, 7-6.