In a stunning upset at the Cincinnati Open, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by Gael Monfils in a thrilling three-set match, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. The match, which had been interrupted by rain, saw Alcaraz lose his composure in an uncharacteristic display of frustration, smashing his racket multiple times on the court.Alcaraz, visibly shaken by his performance, described it as ‘the worst match that I’ve ever played in my career’. The Spanish player, who had been hoping to surpass Novak Djokovic in the rankings and secure the second seed at the US Open, now faces a setback in his preparations for the final Grand Slam of the year.For Monfils, this victory marks his first win over Alcaraz in their three encounters and his 37th career win against a top 10 player. The 37-year-old Frenchman’s performance was particularly impressive given his recent struggles with injuries.Meanwhile, world No. 1 Iga Świątek advanced to the quarterfinals with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 win over Marta Kostyuk. In the women’s draw, No. 3 seed Aryna Sabalenka also progressed with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Elina Svitolina.As the tournament progresses, all eyes will now be on how Alcaraz rebounds from this unexpected defeat as he prepares for the US Open, set to begin on August 26. The young Spanish star will be looking to regain his form and confidence in the lead-up to the final Grand Slam of the season.
Key points
- Carlos Alcaraz lost to Gael Monfils in a surprising upset at the Cincinnati Open.
- Alcaraz displayed uncharacteristic frustration, smashing his racket and calling it his worst match ever.
- This loss impacts Alcaraz’s US Open preparations and his chance to surpass Novak Djokovic in the rankings.
- Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka advanced in the women’s draw.
