Carlos Alcaraz says what happened to him which he’s never experienced before during loss to Gael Monfils in Cincinnati

Follow us on Google Discover

Carlos Alcaraz suffered a rude awakening as Gael Monfils soared to victory over the Spaniard in their Cincinnati second-round encounter.

Alcaraz, who was unable to restrain himself from dismantling a racket, was left bewildered as the match slipped agonizingly out of reach.

Monfils pounced with an early break in the deciding set and Alcaraz couldn’t mount a comeback, falling 4-6, 7-6(5) 6-4.

After defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Olympics final two weeks prior, the 21-year-old finds himself in a worrying position heading to the US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz reflects on ‘hurtful moment’ in Cincinnati

Carlos Alcaraz left fans in shock when he succumbed to the demons inside his head and deconstructed his racket mid-way through the deciding set.

It’s not something we are used to seeing from the four-time major champion, but it shows that he is human.

“I was feeling that I was not playing any kind of tennis,” Alcaraz said in a press conference. “It was really frustrating for me.

“There were some points that I wanted to leave the court, I didn’t want to be there anymore. It was a really hurtful moment for me, and that’s it.

“Some players during their careers, can’t control themselves, and this was one of those moments for me.

“I felt sometimes that I wanted to break the racket. It never happened before because I could control myself in those situations and those feelings.

“Most of the time I could control myself and cope better with those feelings. Today I couldn’t control myself because I was feeling I was not playing any kind of tennis.”

Alcaraz flummoxed by the speed of the court

After the match, Alcaraz protested that the center court played much faster than the others, claiming that he was unable to adapt.

The Spaniard reached the final of the Cincinnati Open 12 months ago, though he was incapable of emulating that form in Ohio this year.

It is reported that the Cincinnati courts have recently been resurfaced, with the likes of Jack Draper commenting on their speed.

Some have been able to adjust, but others, such as the world number three, have been sent packing.