Newcomer Carlos Alcaraz made quite a splash at the Cincinnati Open, showcasing a side of himself that fans had never seen before. Still reeling from his loss to Novak Djokovic at the Olympic Games, Alcaraz was determined to compete no matter what. The tournament had already seen its fair share of upsets, and Alcaraz was about to add another one to the list.
Facing off against veteran Gael Monfils, who is ranked No. 46 in the world, Alcaraz, currently ranked No. 3, found himself in a tough battle on Center Court. Despite winning a second set tiebreaker, Monfils managed to hold serve throughout the third set and clinch a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over the recent Cincinnati runner-up.
The aftermath of the match saw Alcaraz expressing his frustration to a reporter, calling it the worst game of his professional career. Monfils, at 37 years old, may not be the player he once was, but his victory over Alcaraz marked a significant milestone. Becoming the second-oldest player to defeat a Top 3 player in the world, Monfils joined the likes of Roger Federer in achieving such a feat.
During a crucial moment in the match, Alcaraz’s emotions got the best of him as he destroyed his racket after Monfils took the lead in the third set. Struggling to break the veteran Frenchman, Alcaraz couldn’t contain his frustration, earning a code violation warning for racket abuse. Reflecting on the loss, Alcaraz admitted that he was unable to control himself and deemed the match simply impossible to win.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz now sets his sights on regrouping and preparing for the upcoming U.S. Open in New York. Despite the setback in Cincinnati, the young tennis sensation remains focused on his journey in the world of professional tennis, ready to face whatever challenges come his way.
