Carlos Alcaraz issued an apology for his behavior during a match against Gael Monfils at the Cincinnati Open. In a rare display of frustration, the No. 3 player in the ATP rankings smashed his racket on the court during the third set, ultimately losing 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to Monfils. Alcaraz acknowledged his actions were not appropriate in a statement posted in Spanish, expressing difficulty in controlling his emotions when his heart rate is elevated. He vowed to work on preventing such behavior in the future.

This match was Alcaraz’s first since winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and being defeated by Novak Djokovic, who also bested him in last year’s Cincinnati final. The 21-year-old player described the game as the worst of his career, despite feeling well-prepared and in good form earlier. Alcaraz expressed a desire to forget the match and focus on his upcoming participation in the U.S. Open, scheduled to start in New York on August 26.