Carlos Alcaraz is in Cincinnati preparing to compete in his last tournament before the US Open.
The Spaniard will be looking to go one better than his 2023 campaign, where he lost a marathon three-set final to Novak Djokovic.
The Cincinnati Open has proven to be a springboard towards US Open success in recent years, with the likes of Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner all winning the Cincinnati title before capturing the US Open.
In 2024, Alcaraz failed to repeat his 2023 campaign in Cincinnati, losing in the round of 32 to Gael Monfils.
After the match, Alcaraz described the contest as the ‘worst match’ he had played in his career.
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images‘The worst match I have ever played’
In his first tournament after losing the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal match to Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz was shocked by journeyman Gael Monfils in the round of 32.
The Frenchman defeated Alcaraz 4-6 7-6 6-4, as the Spaniard showed a rare loss of composure during the match, smashing his racket after one particular point.
Alcaraz said: “Honestly, it was really, really tough for me. I felt like it was the worst match I have ever played of my career. Couldn’t play, honestly.
“I’ve been practicing really well here in this tournament, the previous days I was feeling great, hitting the ball clear, you know, moving well.
“Probably I felt like it was another sport in the Centre Court than the other courts. The balls were faster on the Centre Court, bounced much, much more than other courts.
“I warmed up before the match, and yes he said it was a totally different feeling. I don’t know why, and honestly I don’t know. I don’t know what happened, I don’t know how I felt like this way.
“But honestly I couldn’t control my serve, I couldn’t be better so this match it was impossible to win and that’s all.”
As per the ATP Tour website, Alcaraz converted just one of his seven break-point opportunities during the match, while also being outgunned by Monfils: 30 winners to Alcaraz’s 29.
Despite Monfils’ struggles for consistency, striking 35 unforced errors to Alcaraz’s 22, the Spaniard simply could not capitalise against the Frenchman.
Alcaraz’s revenge in Shanghai
Just two months after Alcaraz’s brutal loss in Cincinnati, he was granted the opportunity for revenge.
The Spaniard duly delivered, defeating Monfils in the 2024 Shanghai Masters round of 16, winning by a scoreline of 6-4 7-5.
Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Alcaraz holds a three-to-one head-to-head record over the Frenchman, after further victories at Indian Wells in 2022 and the 2024 Miami Masters.
The Spaniard will face either Mattia Bellucci or Damir Dzumhur in the second round of the Cincinnati Open, after receiving a first-round bye. Alcaraz has not played a competitive match since the Wimbledon final, after withdrawing from the Canadian Open.