Carlos Alcaraz suffered 13 losses in 2024. One got here towards a rival from exterior the top-100, and the worst 5 defeats got here towards these positioned exterior the top-20. Three got here towards the rivals ranked twenty first, thirty first and thirty third, which isn’t dangerous.
Nevertheless, Alcaraz has raised the bar excessive within the final couple of years, and we don’t count on his failures to come back when he doesn’t faces these from the highest. We wrote about two of his worst losses of 2024 within the first article, and the second examines the remaining three.
Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Tomas Machac downs Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai
Carlos defeated Jannik Sinner after an epic battle within the ATP 500 Beijing Open last. The Spaniard couldn’t repeat in Shanghai, falling to world no. 33 Tomas Machac 7-6, 7-5. It was one other Alcaraz’s loss on our listing, which isn’t that dangerous for the four-time Main winner.
The Czech toppled a better-ranked opponent in two tight units for a spot in his first Masters 1000 semi-final. World no. 2 squandered his alternatives within the opening set and misplaced floor within the closing levels of the second, ending his marketing campaign within the quarter-final.
Tomas Machac & Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Tomas claimed two factors greater than Carlos and prevailed within the pivotal moments. Machac performed towards eight break factors, 5 within the sixth sport of the second set. He defended seven and secured two breaks from 4 alternatives, together with an important one within the penultimate sport.
Alcaraz hit 25 winners and 19 unforced errors, hitting extra service winners and constructing the benefit from the baseline. Machac performed extra aggressive tennis and carried out flawlessly on the web. They stayed neck and neck within the shortest and extra superior exchanges.
All of it got here all the way down to Tomas’ dependable efficiency within the closing levels of each units.
What a solution to break 😲
Machac will serve for the match towards Alcaraz#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/in20QEwKXL
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 10, 2024
Alcaraz prolonged the third sport of the duel and created a break likelihood. Machac saved it and survived a number of extra deuces earlier than holding for 2-1. They served properly within the upcoming video games and locked the end result at 3-3. Tomas confronted a break level within the seventh sport.
He erased it with a robust serve and survived one other scary second to stay on the optimistic facet. The returners created no possibilities within the remaining 5 video games of the set, with two rivals reaching a tie break. They traded early mini-breaks earlier than Tomas cracked a forehand winner for 4-2.
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
The Czech earned one other mini-break with a smash winner for 5-2 and landed a deep return at 5-4 for set factors. Machac transformed the second with a forehand drive-volley winner, wrapping up the opener after 62 minutes. Tomas gained a lift and clinched a break at 1-1 within the second set.
Machac saved a break level within the subsequent one with a pressured error and closed the sport with a forehand winner for 3-1. The Czech confronted the final word problem within the sixth sport. He performed towards 5 break factors and received damaged, bringing his opponent again to 3-3.
They served properly within the subsequent 4 video games and locked the end result at 5-5. Tomas stepped in on the return within the eleventh sport, changing the second break level with a backhand crosscourt winner and shifting 6-5 in entrance. Machac held at love in sport 12, sealing the deal and rising at the highest.
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Carlos falls to Gael Monfils in ‘the worst match of his profession’
Alcaraz fell to the French veteran Gael Monfils in Cincinnati. World no. 46 surprised the favourite 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 after a two-day thriller. Final 12 months’s finalist was livid about his efficiency, smashing his racquet after the fourth sport of the decider and dropping his mood.
The four-time Main winner appologized and promised to keep away from these scenes sooner or later. They left the court docket within the tie break of the second set and continued the following day. Monfils defended six of seven break factors and clinched a break initially of the decider.
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Carlos didn’t just like the floor and the extent he offered, though he didn’t carry out that badly. The Spaniard served properly within the opening two units, lacking an opportunity to seal the deal within the tie break. Alcaraz delivered a extra environment friendly ratio of winners and unforced errors however ended on the dropping facet.
The Spaniard clinched a break within the third sport of the duel, welcoming the rival’s double fault and shifting in entrance. Carlos cemented the break with an ace in sport 4 and fired a robust serve two video games later for 4-2.
Alcaraz supplied a maintain at love in sport eight and served for the opener at 5-4. He missed three set factors earlier than seizing the fourth for 6-4 in 32 minutes. The veteran stepped in on the return within the sixth sport and created 4 break factors.
Even Monfils is impressed by Alcaraz’s motion 😅👏 pic.twitter.com/DitxEkQxFV
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) March 26, 2024
Carlos erased them and landed a service winner for a maintain and 3-3. The Spaniard had a possibility to ship a pivotal break within the ninth sport after a forehand down the road winner. Gael saved two break factors with winners and clinched the sport for 5-4.
Alcaraz performed towards a set level at 5-6 after a pressured error. He saved it and reached a tie break the place his rival felt the stress. Monfils moved 3-1 in entrance with a few mini-breaks earlier than the rain despatched them off the court docket till the following morning.
Carlos Alcaraz, Shanghai 2024© Stream screenshot
The Frenchman generated three set factors and seized the final with a service winner, introducing a decider after an hour and 31 minutes. The opening 4 video games of the ultimate set introduced possibilities for the returners. Carlos denied two break factors within the first sport.
He created two possibilities on the return within the subsequent one and squandered them. The younger gun paid the value within the subsequent sport, embracing a few free photographs and struggling the one break of the match. Gael defended a break level within the fourth sport.
He held with a winner and brought about the rival’s frustration and a damaged racquet. Monfils closed the eighth sport with a service winner and served for a notable win at 5-4. The veteran hit a service winner on a match level, offering the favourite’s early exit.
Botic van de Zandschulp & Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Botic van de Zandschulp stuns Carlos on the US Open
Alcaraz’s worst lack of the season got here on the US Open. World no. 74 Botic van de Zandchulp scored a surprising 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 victory, ending the Spaniard’s streak of 15 consecutive Main wins. World no. 3 struggled at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Carlos raised his stage within the second set however failed to increase the battle, struggling his worst Main defeat since Wimbledon 2021. Botic managed the tempo regardless of struggling behind the second serve. He performed properly on the web and stole 43% of the return factors.
Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
The Dutchman created 9 break possibilities and transformed six. Alcaraz generated 5 alternatives and transformed solely two, ending his marketing campaign a lot sooner than anticipated. The younger gun sprayed over 30 unforced errors whereas his rivals tamed his strokes properly.
Botic took cost within the shortest and most superior rallies, retaining his composure and incomes a career-best victory. The lower-ranked participant made a flying begin. He overpowered the four-time Main winner on serve and return for an preliminary enhance.
Carlos misplaced serve within the encounter’s second sport after a backhand error. Van de Zandschulp opened a 4-1 lead after 23 minutes and secured a break at 15 in sport six for an enormous benefit. The Dutchman held at love at 5-1 with a service winner, clinching an ideal set in fashion.
Botic van de Zandschulp simply knocked Carlos Alcaraz out of the US Open! pic.twitter.com/QK3ZrkoPgx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2024
Alcaraz wasted a break likelihood within the second sport of the second set and suffered a break within the subsequent one after a free forehand. Alcaraz made a comeback in sport 4, incomes his first break and leveling the rating at 2-2. Did he increase his stage after that? No!
He may solely perform a little within the upcoming return video games, with van de Zandschulp locking the end result at 5-5 with a maintain in sport ten. Carlos misplaced floor within the eleventh sport, hitting a double fault and dropping serve to search out himself 6-5 behind.
Botic held at love at 6-5, welcoming the rival’s errors and forging an enormous two units to like benefit after an hour and 28 minutes. They opened the third set with 4 comfy holds. The Dutchman stepped in on the return within the fifth sport.
Carlos Alcaraz, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
He witnessed Alcaraz’s wayward forehand and secured a break that despatched him nearer to the highest. Carlos made one final push on the return within the sixth sport and pulled the break again after the opponent’s double fault. Van de Zandschulp held after a deuce within the eighth sport.
He discovered the rhythm on the return within the subsequent one and generated three break possibilities after an prolonged rally. The Dutchman seized the second after the Spaniard’s wild forehand, delivering a break and forging a 5-4 benefit. The lower-ranked participant served for the win in sport ten.
He handed world no. 3 on the web for 3 match factors. Botic landed a service winner on the primary, sealing the cope with a maintain at love and sending the 2022 champion packing.
