Carlos Alcaraz on Friday let loose his frustrations with a violent racket smash in a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 defeat at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open that he called the “worst match” of his career.
The reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion could not match the wily skills of 37-year-old French opponent Gael Monfils.
“It was the worst match that I ever played in my career,” Alcaraz said. “I couldn’t play. I don’t know what happened. Honestly, I couldn’t, I couldn’t control myself. I couldn’t be better. It was impossible to win, and that’s all.”
Photo: Susan Mullane-USA Today
“I came here thinking I’m going to feel good,” the Spaniard added. “I’m going to put in a good tennis, because I know how to play on this court.”
Alcaraz said he had never before broken a racket in anger, but this match was the exception.
“It’s really difficult to find some good stuff from this match — I want to forget it and try to move on to New York” at the US Open, he said. “I’ll try to practice well, to get used to those courts. And I will forget this match.”
Photo: Susan Mullane-USA Today
Later on Friday, Holger Rune of Denmark ended Monfils’ run, winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The others in the men’s quarters were: Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Hubert Hurkacz, Jack Draper and Frances Tiafoe.
In the women’s singles, top seed Iga Swiatek defeated Marta Kostyuk for the second time this season, powering into the quarter-finals 6-2, 6-2.
Top-ranked Swiatek finished off the victory efficiently after struggling through three sets in the previous round to defeat Varvara Gracheva.
Swiatek secured the opening set in 31 minutes and was untroubled as she rolled through the second.
“I’m happy that I kept my intensity, in the first match, it got a little bit down, but I was ready in every game, “Swiatek said. “I’m happy I was solid. I was disciplined with all the things that I wanted to take care of.”
The others to advance to the quarters were: Liudmila Samsonova, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Leylah Annie Fernandez, Paula Badosa, Jessica Pegula and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
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