Carlos Alcaraz apologizes for on-court frustration: 'It will not happen again'

08/21/2024 05:04 PM

Besides his incredible results and skills, Carlos Alcaraz is known for his sportsmanship on the court. The young Spaniard respects his rivals and the game, bringing rare bursts of anger and fury. A moment like that occurred last week during the Cincinnati Masters. Carlos faced Gael Monfils in the second round and experienced a tough 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 loss. Alcaraz smashed his racquet following the fourth game of the decider, losing his temper and not thinking clearly for a couple of seconds. The young champion apologized to everyone for his behavior, admitting it was challenging to control his emotions and promising to work on that so it would never happen again. Carlos did not like the conditions on the central court, calling them completely different from what he experienced while practicing on the smaller ones. Thus, last year's finalist dropped points and lost ground to Jannik Sinner in the ATP Race. They battled for two days, with the rain sending them off the court in the tie break of the second set.

Monfils clinched it the following day and prevailed in the decider for his most notable victory since Indian Wells 2022. The veteran saved six of seven break points and grabbed that break in the early stages of the final set that carried him home. Despite blasting his performance, Alcaraz did not drop his serve in the opening two sets. He trailed 3-1 in the tie break before the rain sent them off the court and could not find the rhythm the next morning. Gael had more service winners, while Carlos played better from the baseline. The Spaniard had a better ratio of winners and unforced errors, but it was not enough to carry him home. Monfils held at 30 in the first game of the match, and Alcaraz grabbed the next one after causing the rival's mistake for 1-1. Carlos found the rhythm on the return in the third game, firing a forehand winner and constructing two break chances. He seized the first after Gael's double fault, moving in front and creating an early advantage.

Alcaraz fired an ace in the fourth game, cementing the break and forging the lead after 11 minutes. The Spaniard opened a 4-2 gap with a service winner in the sixth game, and the Frenchman served well after losing serve, remaining in touch. Carlos felt no pressure in his games, holding at love in game eight and moving 5-3 in front. The young gun served for the opener in game ten and missed three set points. Alcaraz converted the fourth after Monfils' wayward forehand, taking the opener 6-4 in 32 minutes. Gael closed the opening two service games of the second set with winners, with Carlos following that pace. That changed in the sixth game when the Spaniard experienced four break points. World no. 3 denied them with fine hitting and held with a service winner for a crucial hold and 3-3. Alcaraz had a massive chance to build the pivotal advantage in the ninth game, firing a forehand down the line winner and earning two break chances.

Monfils kept his composure and denied them with winners, getting out of jail and holding with an ace for 5-4. They produced fine holds in games ten and 11 before Carlos faced a set point on serve in the 12th game after a forced error. The Frenchman wasted his opportunity and had no room for mistakes in the tie break. Gael grabbed two mini-breaks and led 3-1 before the rain sent them off the court. They continued in the morning, and Carlos faced three set points after two forehand errors. Monfils converted the third with a service winner, forcing a decider after an hour and 31 minutes and gathering a boost. The returners created break chances in the opening four games of the final set, and Gael capitalized on his and moved in front. Carlos saved two break points in the first game and created two chances on the return in the next one.

The Spaniard squandered them and paid the price in the next one. Alcaraz netted a routine forehand in the third game, facing two break points and playing a loose backhand on the first, sending Monfils 2-1 in front. Gael saved a break point in the fourth game and closed it with a winner, drawing Carlos' frustration and a racquet smash. The veteran moved 5-3 in front with a service winner, keeping the pressure on the other side. Alcaraz grabbed the ninth game at 30, prolonging the action and hoping for another push on the return. Instead, Gael fired a service winner at 5-4, moving over the top and delivering Carlos' early exit. 

"I apologize for my attitude yesterday. It was not correct, and it's something that should not be done on the court. I am human; I had a build-up of nerves inside, and sometimes, it's 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 New York!" Carlos Alcaraz said.