Carlos Alcaraz Stunned in Cincinnati Open 2024: ‘Worst Match’ of Career

Carlos Alcaraz vented his frustration by smashing his racket during a 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 loss at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Open on Friday. He later described the match as the “worst” of his career.

The reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion struggled against the experienced 37-year-old French player Gael Monfils, who has been a formidable opponent throughout his two decades in the sport.

“It was the worst match I’ve ever played in my career,” Alcaraz admitted. “I couldn’t play. I don’t know what happened. I couldn’t control myself, couldn’t perform better. Winning was impossible, and that’s all there is to it.”

The Spaniard added, “I came here expecting to play well, to put on a good performance because I know how to play on this court.”

Alcaraz mentioned that he had never broken a racket in anger before but made an exception for this match. As the ATP’s number three and 2023 Cincinnati runner-up, he now heads into the US Open, which starts in a week, without a hardcourt win and with only one second-round match under his belt this summer.

“It’s tough to find any positives from this match—I just want to forget it and focus on New York,” he said. “I’ll try to practice well, get used to those courts, and move past this match.”

After his victory, Monfils started another third-round match only hours later but ultimately lost to Holger Rune, who made a comeback to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Meanwhile, second seed Alcaraz was visibly frustrated, occasionally yelling at his team, while world number one Jannik Sinner quietly celebrated his 23rd birthday. Sinner received an unexpected gift when his Australian opponent, Jordan Thompson, withdrew before their match due to a rib injury, allowing Sinner to advance to the quarterfinals.

Sinner’s next match is a rematch against Andrey Rublev, who defeated him in the quarterfinals in Canada last week. Rublev won his rain-delayed match against Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

Third seed Alexander Zverev moved into the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta. Number five seed Hubert Hurkacz continued his quick recovery from knee surgery with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

Seventh seed Casper Ruud’s poor form continued as he lost 6-3, 6-1 to Felix Auger-Aliassime in just 68 minutes, with the Canadian hitting 14 aces.

In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Marta Kostyuk, her second victory over the Ukrainian this season. Swiatek, who defeated Kostyuk in Indian Wells last March, remains unbeaten in their rivalry without losing a set.

Due to morning rain, Swiatek had to forgo her usual pre-match routine but showed no signs of it affecting her performance. She wrapped up the match efficiently after a three-set struggle in the previous round against Varvara Gracheva.

“I’m happy I maintained my intensity. In the first match, it dipped a bit,” Swiatek said. “But I was ready in every game. I’m glad I was solid and disciplined with everything I aimed to do.”

Three-time semi-finalist and third seed Aryna Sabalenka defeated Monfils’s wife, Elina Svitolina, 7-5, 6-2, securing her fourth quarterfinal appearance in Cincinnati.

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula won a delayed second-round match against 2023 runner-up Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Pegula then secured her second victory of the day, defeating fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.

Caroline Wozniacki’s WTA comeback continued, but she lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-4. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen defeated Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-1, 7-5, while teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva eliminated Italy’s Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.