Match Response

Alcaraz: ‘Not possible to get any good from this match’

The 21-year-old speaks candidly about early loss

August 16, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz has no scarcity of memorable accolades this season, from successful two majors, an ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and a silver medal on the Paris Olympics. However the Spaniard desires to haven’t any reminiscence of any form of his second-round loss in opposition to Gael Monfils on the Cincinnati Open.

“It is form of actually troublesome to seek out some great things from this match. So I wish to neglect it, and attempt to transfer on to New York,” Alcaraz stated in his post-match press convention. “I will go to New York and I will attempt to practise effectively, to get used to these courts. And I’ll neglect this match, as a result of I feel it’s unattainable to get any good issues about this match.”

The 21-year-old, who was competing in his first hard-court match since Miami in March, held championship level final 12 months in Cincinnati earlier than Novak Djokovic roared again to assert the title in what is basically thought-about one of many biggest ATP Masters 1000 finals.

Enjoying his first match in Cincinnati since that near-four hour epic, with hopes of going one step additional than final 12 months’s runner-up end, Alcaraz was as a substitute shocked by the 37-year-old Monfils 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. The 15-time tour-level titlist spoke candidly in assessing his stage.

“I felt prefer it was the worst match that I ever performed in my profession,” Alcaraz stated. “[I] could not play. Actually, I have been practising rather well right here on this match. The earlier days, I used to be feeling nice, hitting the ball clear, transferring effectively. I do not know what occurred. I do not understand how I felt like this, however I could not management myself. I could not be higher. So this match, it was unattainable to win.”

Alcaraz grew atypically pissed off when Monfils consolidated his break lead early within the deciding set. The second seed smashed his racquet on the arduous court docket 4 instances, breaking it in a number of locations.

“I felt typically that I wished to interrupt the racquet. It by no means occurred earlier than, as a result of I may management myself in these conditions, in these emotions,” Alcaraz stated. “More often than not I may management myself and it may go higher within the matches or within the state of affairs that I have been feeling earlier than.

“As we speak, I could not management myself, as a result of, as I stated, I used to be feeling that I used to be not taking part in any form of tennis. I feel some gamers, numerous gamers, throughout their careers and through some sure moments, they cannot management themselves. And it was one of many moments for me.”

Alcaraz and Monfils started their match Thursday night, however have been compelled off court docket on account of rain with the World No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings main 6-3, 6-6(1/3). Trailing by a mini-break within the second-set tie-break when the match resumed Friday, Alcaraz was hopeful to discover a higher stage.

“I simply [tried] not to consider the match final night time. I simply wish to get better as finest as I can, to have a great relaxation and be prepared for at the moment’s match,” Alcaraz stated. “Yesterday, I did not play effectively as effectively. I feel yesterday the longest rally was 5 balls. So I could not get emotions yesterday. So I simply thought that, ‘Nicely, have some relaxation, and tomorrow it is gonna be one other day. I am in all probability going to really feel higher.’ However it did not occur.”