In a surprising turn of events at the Cincinnati Open, Carlos Alcaraz suffered a frustrating defeat against Gaël Monfils in the second round. The 21-year-old Spaniard's disappointment reached a boiling point as he vented his frustrations by repeatedly smashing his racket against the court, leaving the frame bent out of shape. The shocked crowd watched on as Monfils consolidated a break in the third set, ultimately claiming a hard-fought 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 victory on Friday.

Taking to Instagram the following day, Alcaraz extended his apologies for his display of anger on the court. Recognizing that his behavior was unacceptable, the world No. 3 expressed his remorse and commitment to controlling his emotions in the future. Alcaraz stated, "I'm human. The nerves had accumulated, and sometimes it's very tough to control when there is that tension. I will work so that it doesn't happen again. Now it's time to think about NYC!"

During the press conference after the match, Alcaraz admitted that he had experienced a momentary lapse of control in what he described as the "worst match" of his career. The young player shared his struggle to contain his feelings, confessing, "I felt sometimes that I wanted to break the racket. It never happened before because I could control myself in those situations, in those feelings. Today, I couldn't control myself because, as I said, I was feeling that I was not playing any kind of tennis... It was one of those moments for me."

For Monfils, this victory held significant importance as it marked his first win against a top three player since defeating Daniil Medvedev in March 2022 at Indian Wells. The Frenchman celebrated his achievement with a jubilant roar, basking in the crowd's applause. However, it was Alcaraz who had initially appeared to be on track for a hard-fought triumph, showing promising form. Rain interrupted play on Thursday night during a second set tiebreak, with Monfils leading 6-4 6-6 (1-3). Upon resumption, Monfils wrapped up the set and pushed on to claim the decider, saving all four break points he faced.

Reflecting on the match, Alcaraz described his performance as a stark contrast to his usual standards. Expressing his disappointment, he said, "I was feeling great... I warmed up before the match, but it was a totally different feeling. I don't know what happened. I couldn't control my serve... so this match was impossible to win."

In an unexpected turn, Monfils faced Holger Rune later on the same day in the third round but was unable to capitalize on his victory over Alcaraz, as Rune emerged triumphant with a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory.

As Alcaraz reflects on this disheartening defeat, his focus now shifts to the upcoming tournament in New York City, where he will aim to bounce back stronger and regain control of his game.