"Carlos Alcaraz expresses dismay over his worst match ever played, destroying his racket during a stunning loss at the Cincinnati Open"
Monfils secured the win in the third set, having solidified a break and earning a 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 victory over the 21-year-old competitor on Friday.
Subsequently, Alcaraz referred to this moment as an instance of temporarily losing command during "the worst match I've ever played in my career."
"Sometimes I felt like smashing the racket," Alcaraz shared with press members. "This has never happened to me before, as I've been capable of keeping my cool in such scenarios. Typically, I can keep a lid on my emotions, resulting in improved performances in my matches or situations.
"Today, however, I couldn't stabilize my emotions, as I mentioned earlier, I wasn't even playing proper tennis..., I believe some players lose control of themselves during their careers and at specific occasions. And this was one such moment for me."
Triumph was Monfils's, marking his last victory against a top-ranked player since he bested Daniil Medvedev in March 2022 at Indian Wells, and he marked the occasion with a victorious roar and the cheer of the cheering crowd afterwards.
However, it was Alcaraz who had gained the upper hand to start the match, and appeared to be edging towards a tough-fought victory when rain disrupted play on Thursday night in the midst of a second set tiebreak, with the four-time grand slam champion holding a 6-4 6-6 (1-3) lead.
Monfils swiftly concluded the second set upon resurrection of play on Friday, and then proceeded to clinch the deciding set, saving each of the break points faced.
"This was, I'd say, the worst match I've ever played in my career," Alcaraz admitted post-match. "I was feeling great... I had prepared for the match, but it was a completely different atmosphere, I'm not sure what went wrong. I couldn't control my serve... this match was beyond my reach."
Monfils had to make a return to the court later on that day for his third round encounter against Holger Rune, where he ultimately succumbed 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Alcaraz expressed disappointment about his performance in the tennis match, stating, "I wasn't even playing proper tennis today," indicating that his control over the sport was lost. Monfils, on the other hand, proved his skills in the sport by securing a victory, shouting in triumph and hearing the cheer of the crowd.
