The often mild-mannered Carlos Alcaraz let his frustrations get one of the best of him throughout his straight-sets loss to Alexander Zverev within the last group stage match of the ATP Finals on Thursday. The loss meant that the Spaniard crashed out of the year-ending event.
After dropping the primary set in a tiebreaker (7-5), Alcaraz was seen throwing his racket in anger earlier than uttering some phrases to his group within the field. It was a uncommon second when the World No. 3 let his frustrations manifest on a tennis courtroom.
It was exceptional that Alcaraz even pressured a tiebreaker within the first set, contemplating the uncharacteristic errors he made within the early goings. Issues acquired solely worse within the second set as Alcaraz dedicated 34 unforced errors for the match. It additionally did not assist that his opponent, Zverev, performed a virtually flawless match, finishing 55/70 of his first serves and profitable 38 p.c of his return factors. Alcaraz acquired two alternatives to interrupt Zverev’s serve within the second set however got here up brief on each events.
Throughout his ATP Finals run in Turin, Alcaraz was dealing with an illness, which he overcame in his win over Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. Nevertheless, he refused to make use of his sickness as an excuse for the straight-sets loss to the World No. 2 German.
“It was a troublesome week for me, but it surely’s a privilege to be right here among the many eight greatest gamers on the earth,” Alcaraz stated, via ATPTour.com. “I’ll be taught from what has occurred. I performed good tennis, however right this moment I confronted among the best. I am disenchanted with the defeat. One in every of my objectives is to succeed in this a part of the yr feeling brisker. I used to be higher than final yr, however not adequate. I need to be as recent as doable mentally and revel in each certainly one of my matches.”
Alcaraz will subsequent journey to Malaga to signify Spain within the last phases of the Davis Cup, which kicks off on Nov. 19. He’ll group up along with his mentor, Rafael Nadal, in his swan song from the sport. Forward of Spain’s conflict with the Netherlands within the quarterfinals, Alcaraz stated he is decided to make sure Nadal will get a triumphant exit from tennis.
