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Carlos Alcaraz was spotted in a fit of rage as he destroyed his racquet after losing against Gael Monfils in the round of 32 game at the Cincinnati Open on Friday, August 16. Notably, the match resumed on Friday after the rain had halted play on Thursday with Alcaraz leading Monfils 6-4, 6-6(1/3).
However, the Frenchman made a brilliant comeback the next day to hand Alacaraz just the eighth defeat of the year by 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. Following his loss, the Spanish player looked visibly frustrated and let his emotions get the better of him as he repeatedly smashed his racquet at the court to break it.
Speaking after the game, Alcaraz called it the worst match of his career and said that he will try to move on and focus on the upcoming US open.
“I felt like it was the worst match that I've ever played on 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,” said Alcaraz after the game.
Further speaking ahead, the 21-year-old opened up on expressing his raw emotions and said he failed to control his feelings and admitted his frustration.
“It never happened before, because I could control those feelings. Today I couldn't. I was feeling that I was not playing any kind of tennis. It was really frustrating for me. At some point, I didn't want to be on the court anymore,” he added.
Alcaraz recently lost in the final of men’s singles at the Paris Olympics against Novak Djokovic who won by 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2). Despite that the Spaniard has had a phenomenal year having won back-to-back grand slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. The World number 3 will now shift his focus on the US Open set to begin from August 26.
The 21-year-old won his first major singles title in New York in 2022 and became the youngest man and first male teenager in the Open era to top the singles rankings. Alcaraz will be eager to repeat his heroics to add another feather cap in the ongoing year.
