Carlos Alcaraz was left stunned in what he described as the “worst match” of his young career, bowing out 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 against veteran Gaël Monfils in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters.
Ranked No.3 in the world, Alcaraz played his first match since the gold medal decider at the Paris Games, seemingly rusty and void of solutions.
The pair returned to the court after play was suspended yesterday due to rain, where Alcaraz required only six points in the tiebreak to advance.
But it went the opposite way, as 37-year-old showman Monfils found an extra gear and used his experience, tipping Alcaraz over the edge when the four-time Grand Slam champion smashed his racquet in anger early in the third set - much to the crowd’s shock.
"I don't know what happened. I couldn't control myself. I couldn't be better. So this match, it was impossible to win, and that's all,” he told reporters.
“It was really tough for me. I felt like it was the worst match that I’ve ever played in my career,” the Spaniard admitted.
“I’ve been practicing really well at this tournament, the previous days. I was feeling great hitting the ball clear, moving well.”
Coming off consecutive Grand Slam titles on grass and clay, as well as silver in the Olympics on red dirt, Alcaraz found the court conditions unusual which the 21-year-old felt hindered his performance.
“I felt like it was another sport playing on the centre court than the other courts,” he said.
“The balls were faster… bouncing much more than on the other courts.
“As I said, honestly, I came here thinking that I’m feeling good, that I’m going to [play] good tennis because I’m used to playing on this court. I know how to play on this court, but I felt like [it was a] totally different surface, a totally different sport.”
For Monfils, the fan-favourite proved he still possesses the talent despite entering the twilight of his career, letting out an almighty scream after match point.
Earlier in the week after his win against newly crowned Masters 1000 champion Alexei Popyrin, the Frenchman had nothing but praise for Alcaraz.
“He’s a complete athlete in terms of speed, endurance, power,” Monfils said. “And then his tennis, of course, is quite complete, too. Backhand, forehand, it's quite hard to see where you can (hit). He improved a lot on the return, he’s serving big. He’s just a really complete player.
“At the moment, I see him (the same) as Novak, as Rafa, as Roger, for me. He’s just a bit younger, but he’s already a legend.”
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