Carlos Alcaraz is determined to put his emotional outburst during the Cincinnati Open behind him as he prepares for the start of the US Open next week. (More Tennis News)
The Spaniard has enjoyed an unforgettable three months, winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-♛to-back before earning the silver med🃏al at the Olympics.
However, his return to hard court has not been so smoo🔜th as he suffered a shock defeat to Gael Monfils in the second round in Cincinnati last week.
After cruising through the first set, Alcaraz's match was delayed by rain with the secondꦇ set tied at 6-6, and the Frenchman rallied to win the tie-break and the𒀰 decider.
The world number three's frustration was evident during the match as he smashed his racquet on th🧸e court four times midway through the third set.
Alcaraz admitted he struggled to adapt to the court's surface but is ready to step up his preparation for the US Open to a𓂃void the sameꦰ issues.
"I couldn't play. Honestly, I'd been practising𒁏 really well," Alcaraz said.
"The previous days, I was feeling great, hitting the ball cleཧar, moving well. I don't know what happened.
"I don't know how ꦅI felt like this. I couldn't control myself.
"It's really difficult to find some good stuff from this match. So, I want to forget it and try to move on. I'll go to New York and try to practise wel🌱l, get used to those courts.&⛎quot;
Alcaraz won the firstဣ of his four grand slams at Flushing Meadows as a teenager 𒁃during his breakout tournament.
While a third grand slam title of 2024 may be on his mind, Alcaraz is also targeting a different goal for the end of the year, as he aim🧸s to leapfrog J⛎annik Sinner and Novak Djokovic to become the world number one.
"I'm focused on going to every tournament, thinking about playing great tennis, doing a good result 🐻to get better in the race,&quo🐼t; Alcaraz added.
"Ending the year as numberꩵ one is one of my main goals."
