Carlos Alcaraz apologizes for racket smash at Cincinnati

Field Level Media|published: Sat 17th August, 16:12 2024

Aug 16, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain with ice towels at a change of ends during his match against Gael Monfils of France on day five of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz made headlines for multiple reasons on Friday, though none of them were good. On Saturday, the Spaniard apologized for the more unfortunate part of his rough day.

After France's Gael Monfils pulled off a major upset by defeating Alcaraz 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a weather-interrupted match at the Cincinnati Open on Friday, Alcaraz responded by smashing his racket on the court repeatedly.

It was a rare outburst for the decorated 21-year-old, who had previously been undefeated against Monfils in two matches.

The four-time Grand Slam winner offered an apology for the display of frustration Saturday in Spanish on X (formerly Twitter).

"I apologize because my attitude yesterday was not correct and it is something that should not be done on the track," Alcaraz said. "I am human, I had a lot of nerves inside and sometimes it is very difficult to control yourself when your heart rate is so high. I will work so that it does not happen again. Time to think about NYC!"

If was the first top-three win for the 37-year-old Monfils since defeating then-No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in March 2022. In doing so, he became the second-oldest player to defeat a top-three opponent this century (Roger Federer, 38, vs. No. 2 Novak Djokovic in 2019).

Rain had suspended the second-round match Thursday night with the Spaniard ahead 6-4, 6-6 (1-3).

"I felt like it was the worst match that I ever played in my career," Alcaraz said. "(I) couldn't play. Honestly, I've been practicing really well here in this tournament. The previous days, I was feeling great, hitting the ball clear, moving well. I don't know what happened.

"I don't know how I felt like this, but I couldn't control myself. I couldn't be better. So this match, it was impossible to win."

Monfils, ranked No. 46 in the world, defeated a top-three opponent for the ninth time in his career.

Alcaraz had lost only seven matches this year, winning the French Open and Wimbledon and earning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this month. He referenced in his tweet the U.S. Open, which begins in New York on Aug. 26.

--Field Level Media

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