Carlos Alcaraz broke his racket during the match.
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Alcaraz’s Frustration Leads to Racket Breakdown
Alcaraz Apologizes for Racket During his shocking loss to Gaël Monfils in the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz lost his composure and smashed his racket against the court. The racket was severely bent, and the crowd watched in disbelief. This incident occurred as Monfils secured a break in the third set, leading to a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over the 21-year-old on Friday.
Apology from Alcaraz
Alcaraz Apologizes for Racket On Saturday, Alcaraz took to Instagram to apologize for his on-court outburst. “I want to apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was inappropriate and should not happen on court,” he said. The world No. 3 acknowledged that the pressure and nerves overwhelmed him but promised to work on better control for future matches. He added, “Now it’s time to focus on New York City!”
Alcaraz Reflects on His Worst Match
Alcaraz Apologizes for RacketIn a press conference, Alcaraz described the match as the worst of his career. “I felt at times that I wanted to break the racket. It’s never happened before because I usually manage my emotions,” he explained. Alcaraz admitted he struggled to maintain control and felt he was not playing well. “It was a moment where I couldn’t control myself,” he noted.
Monfils Celebrates Major Victory
For Gaël Monfils, this win was significant as it was his first victory against a top-three player since March 2022. Monfils defeated Daniil Medvedev at Indian Wells and celebrated his triumph with enthusiasm, relishing the crowd’s applause.
Gaël Monfils celebrated his most significant victory in over two years.
Alcaraz’s Strong Start Falters
Carlos Alcaraz began the match strongly and appeared on track for a tough victory. Rain interrupted play on Thursday night with Alcaraz leading 6-4 6-6 (1-3) in the second set tiebreak.
Monfils Turns the Tide
After the rain delay, Gaël Monfils quickly won the second set and then claimed the decisive set. Monfils saved all four break points against him to secure the win.
Alcaraz’s Disappointment
Alcaraz expressed his frustration, calling it the worst match of his career. He struggled to control his serve and felt disconnected from his game. “I don’t know what happened,” he said, reflecting on the difficult match.
Monfils’ Next Challenge
Later on Friday, Monfils faced Holger Rune in the third round but was defeated 3-6 6-3 6-4.