Tennis world in shock over 'bad' Carlos Alcaraz drama: 'I'm angry'
Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz has been upset at the Canadian Open after a shock loss to Tommy Paul.
Alcaraz recently moved up to World No.4 and had been granted the No.2 seed at the Canadian Open due to the absence of Rafa Nadal and Alexander Zverev.
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However, the Spaniard admitted he struggled with the pressure in the big moments - having been unable to convert a match point - after Paul came from a set down to defeat the in-form 19-year-old 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
Alcaraz appeared in total control against the American having been a set up and 4-1, but Paul was able to fight back and force a tiebreak.
The Spaniard wasn't able to recover after losing the tiebreak.
Alcaraz was critical of himself after his performance at the ATP 1000 and said it could have been the first time in his young career that he struggled under the mantle of being a favourite.
"I must learn the lesson of this match," Alcaraz said in the press conference.
"I'm angry. I had my chances to break him early in the third set. I was dominating those points, but I made bad decisions.
It was the first time that I couldn't handle the pressureβ¦ I have to be ready to have this pressure, to have this kind of moments, and to learn how to handle it! πͺπ» pic.twitter.com/dLypEV1Ihg
β Carlos Alcaraz (@carlosalcaraz) August 10, 2022
"That frustrated me. I was able to play better at the end of the match, but I'm angry that I couldn't play my best tennis in the rest of the match.
"I would say it was the first time that I couldn't deal with the pressure. Being the number 2 seed in the draw and number 4 in the world, it was the first time I felt that pressure and I couldn't control it."
Tennis world reacts to Carlos Alcaraz upset
The tennis world reacted with shock to Alcaraz's defeat in the round of 32 after reaching two consecutive finals in recent tournaments.
When did @TommyPaul1 get SO good? So incredibly good?????ππ
β Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) August 10, 2022
π£ππ¨π π£π¨π§π¦ π’π¨π§ πππππ₯ππ πΊπΈ
A sensational result for Tommy Paul as he knocks out second seed Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 7-6 to reach Round Three! @TommyPaul1 | #NBO22 pic.twitter.com/IrOMAFEUMAβ Live Tennis (@livetennis) August 10, 2022
Brilliant win and performance from Tommy Paul. 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 over Carlos Alcaraz.
Stinging loss for Alcaraz, who had match point in the 2nd set tie-break.
Question - has Jannik Sinner given the rest a decent blueprint against Alcaraz? Paul seemed to copy it.β The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) August 10, 2022
UPSET IN MONTREAL! π€―
Tommy Paul defeats #4 Carlos Alcaraz in more than 3h15' and advances into R3.
Tommy is the first player to defeat Alcaraz in his debut match since Korda in Monte Carlo and he's the second player who comes back versus Alcaraz in 2022 (after Sinner). pic.twitter.com/rpxgcQhakVβ Relevant | Tennis Stats & Info (@RelevantTennis) August 10, 2022
This Carlos Alcaraz's normalization is pretty 'normal' at this point of the season. After dominating until Madrid, he is going through a tougher period, but a little reminder: he's the projected year-end world no. 2.
Still one of the favourites to win the US Open.β Relevant | Tennis Stats & Info (@RelevantTennis) August 10, 2022
Carlos Alcaraz wearing a Superhero outfit.
Tommy Paul: pic.twitter.com/fg8otlTZ5Vβ The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) August 10, 2022
What a win for Tommy Paul over Carlos Alcaraz. The American is easily playing the best tennis of his career. Big time W @TommyPaul1 pic.twitter.com/qIsfGwW4kC
β Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) August 10, 2022
Tommy Paul comes back from 1-4 in the 2nd set, saves a match point and gets one of the biggest wins of his career -- 6-7(4), 7-6(7), 6-3 in 3h20 over #4 Carlos Alcaraz -- to reach the last 16 in Montreal.
Paul now has a positive record against top 10 players in 2022: 3-2. pic.twitter.com/Rv6iNGTQSsβ JosΓ© Morgado (@josemorgado) August 10, 2022
AWESOME Tommy Paul! π₯
Huge upset from the US player who stuns Carlos Alcaraz saving a match point 6-7 7-6 6-3 in MontrΓ©al R2 pic.twitter.com/0kGF2911g1β We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) August 10, 2022
Paul has enjoyed a strong 2022 with a great run to the last 16 at Wimbledon.
The American holds a 3-2 winning record over the World Top 10 this year.
Paul will now face Marin Cilic in the Round of 16 in Toronto.
Alcaraz will head to Cincinnati for the ATP 1000 next week.
The Spaniard has lost two consecutive finals heading into the Canadian Open having fallen short in Hamburg and Umag.
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