By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday August 16, 2024
When Carlos Alcaraz walked onto Middle Court docket in Cincinnati on Thursday, he wanted solely six factors to eradicated Gael Monfils and proceed his progress on the Cincinnati Open.
However issues rapidly modified when Monfils completed off the pair’s rain-suspeneded second-set tiebreak and proceeded to complete off Alcaraz in three units, 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4.
It was ominous to look at the 21-year-old four-time main champion smash a racquet early within the third set. He was down a break and hoping to fireside himself up, but it surely by no means occurred.
“I do not know what occurred. I could not management myself. I could not be higher. So this match, it was unattainable to win, and that is all,” he instructed reporters.
“He desperately desires to win this match” 👀#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/QkiDhvNHtw
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 16, 2024
Worst match of my profession
Alcaraz, who was defending runner up factors in Cincinnati, went on to name his efficiency the worst of his profession.
“tt was actually powerful for me,” he mentioned. “I felt prefer it was the worst match that I’ve ever performed in my profession – couldn’t play, truthfully. “I’ve been training rather well at this event, the earlier days. I used to be feeling nice hitting the ball clear, shifting nicely.”
The Spaniard, who received main titles at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon this yr, earlier than snagging a silver medal on the Olympic video games in Paris, says the Middle Court docket in Cincinnati was taking part in quicker than he remembered, and it affected his efficiency.
“I felt prefer it was one other sport taking part in on the middle courtroom than the opposite courts,” he mentioned. “The balls have been quicker on the middle courtroom, bouncing far more than on the opposite courts. As I mentioned truthfully I got here right here considering that I’m feeling good, that I’m going to [play] good tennis as a result of I’m used to taking part in on this courtroom. I understand how to play on this courtroom, however I felt like [it was a] completely totally different floor, a completely totally different sport.
“It was the worst match I’ve ever performed in my profession”
Alcaraz displays on his powerful loss to Monfils at #CincyTennis 🎙 pic.twitter.com/IWc1ddpsZc
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 16, 2024
Requested what the positives that he might take away from the early loss have been, he had nothing so as to add.
“It is form of actually troublesome to search out some good things from this match,” he mentioned. “So I wish to neglect it, and attempt to transfer on to New York. I will go to New York and I will attempt to practise nicely, to get used to these courts. And I’ll neglect this match, as a result of I believe it’s unattainable to get any good issues about this match.”
