Carlos Alcaraz’s cryptic tattoo at Indian Wells: A hidden message finally revealed

Carlos Alcaraz showed the world what appeared to be a new tattoo with a cryptic date, spotted during the Indian Wells television broadcasts. The Spaniard comfortably advanced past Quentin Halys (6-4, 6-2) in the first round, but one of the biggest talking points was the mysterious ink on his arm.

The former world No. 1 previously mentioned that he wanted to get a tattoo for each Grand Slam he won for the first time. He already has the date of his maiden major title at the US Open (11-09-22), a strawberry—a well-known Wimbledon symbol—and an Eiffel Tower tattoo to commemorate his Roland Garros victory.

Additionally, Alcaraz pays tribute to his grandfather with the "Three Cs," a phrase he often told him as a life philosophy: "Cabeza, Corazón y Cojones" ("Head, Heart, and Balls").

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A cryptic message in Indian Wells

A year ago, Alcaraz surprised fans in Indian Wells by signing the camera with an "N" and the message "See you soon" after defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round. This turned out to be a teaser for his upcoming Netflix docuseries, which he had been working on since his participation in the Netflix Slam with Rafael Nadal.

Once again, Alcaraz left fans guessing, as cameras captured a subtle date tattooed on his arm during his match against Halys, reading "23-4-25." Social media exploded with speculation about its meaning. However, it was later revealed that this was a creative way to promote the launch of Alcaraz's documentary, set to premiere just one day before the Madrid Open begins.

As it turns out, the tattoo was temporary, lasting around 36 hours, according to Marca. By the time Alcaraz steps back on court on Monday, it will have already disappeared.

The Spaniard is currently on a 14-match winning streak and will face Denis Shapovalov in the third round. The Canadian has won nine of his last ten matches and recently claimed the title at the DC Open, making this a tough early test as Indian Wells enters its third round.

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