Carlos Alcaraz Faces Stunning Defeat at Cincinnati Open
Carlos Alcaraz endured an unexpected second-round exit at the Cincinnati Open, falling to seasoned French player Gael Monfils in a rain-affected encounter. Alcaraz secured the first set 6-4, but the match shifted dramatically when play resumed after rain delays, with Monfils turning the tide to clinch victory with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
The 37-year-old Monfils showcased resilience as he battled against the second seed under challenging, windy conditions. This marked a significant moment for Alcaraz, who was competing in his first hard-court tournament since March and his first event following a silver medal win at the Paris Olympics.
Looking ahead, Monfils is set to face 15th seed Holger Rune in the third round. Alcaraz’s defeat prevented him from surpassing Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings this week. German player Alexander Zverev now has the opportunity to ascend to world No. 2 by clinching the Cincinnati title, potentially avoiding both Djokovic and Alcaraz until the finals.
Zverev advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta with a score of 7-5, 7-6 (8-6).
In other notable matches, Felix Auger-Aliassime celebrated his 50th Masters 1000 win, overpowering Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-1, and setting up a clash against British No. 1 Jack Draper. Andrey Rublev also reached the quarter-finals, defeating American Brandon Nakashima comfortably, and now faces world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, whose opponent Jordan Thompson withdrew due to injury.
In the women’s draw, top seed Iga Swiatek convincingly defeated Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2, progressing to face either Jasmine Paolini or 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in her bid for a second consecutive semi-final appearance. Aryna Sabalenka, the third seed, also progressed after beating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-2 and will face 10th seed Liudmila Samsonova next.
As the Cincinnati Open continues, fans can anticipate thrilling matchups ahead in the lead-up to the US Open, with many top players competing for glory.
