Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, experienced a rare moment of frustration on Friday during the Cincinnati Open when he lost to Gael Monfils with a score of 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
The intense match, which had already been interrupted by rain on Thursday night, pushed both players to their limits during a nail-biting second-set tiebreaker. Monfils, a seasoned 37-year-old player, managed to secure victory by taking the final two sets from the second-seeded Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, ranked No. 3 in the ATP World Rankings, couldn't contain his emotions after the match, smashing his racket in frustration. Reflecting on the loss, he stated, \"I felt like it was the worst match that I've ever played in my career. I've been practicing really well. I was feeling great. But I couldn't play. I want to forget it and try to move on to New York for the upcoming U.S. Open.\"
Trailing 3-1 in the tiebreaker when the match was halted, Alcaraz was eager for a reset upon resumption. However, the pressure proved too much, leading to a heartbreaking exit from the tournament.
As Alcaraz looks ahead to the U.S. Open in New York, supporters remain hopeful that this setback will serve as a learning experience, fueling his determination in future competitions.
Reference(s):
Alcaraz smashes his racket after losing to Monfils at Cincinnati Open
cgtn.com
