Nicolas Jarry defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(2), 6-3 in consecutive sets.
Carlos Alcaraz (Via Imago)
In a surprising turn of events, Carlos Alcaraz lost to Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the semifinal of the 2024 Argentina Open. Alcaraz, who was the top seed in the tournament, was expected to easily defeat all opponents and win the title before shifting his focus to the Indian Wells. However, he has failed to meet those expectations, resulting in his worst performance in a long time.
Alcaraz’s form declined significantly after his loss against Alexander Zverev in the semifinal of the 2023 [tournament name]. His performance in the Asian swing following that defeat was disappointing, allowing [player name] to maintain a strong lead in the rankings and ultimately become the year-end No. 1.
Since then, the Spaniard has been unable to secure any significant victories. His loss to Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinal of the 2024 Australian Open further highlighted his lack of improvement in form.
Considered the “next big thing” in tennis, Alcaraz has shown glimpses of his potential in various tournaments. However, his inconsistency has become a cause for concern, particularly after his defeat against Nicolas Jarry. The Chilean will now face [player name] in the tournament final, marking one of his most significant wins in recent times.
When a player is compared to greats like [player names] at their best, it is only natural that they will face heavy criticism during their worst moments. This is exactly what is happening with Carlos Alcaraz following his unexpected loss to Nicolas Jarry.
Fans on social media are labeling him a “fraud.” Check out some of the reactions below:
[Reactions from fans]
One fan noticed that as Alcaraz has gained more muscle, his performance has declined. They suggest that he should focus on reducing muscle mass, stating that he was a better player before he developed giant shoulders and arms.
Carlos Alcaraz, who was considered the favorite for Roland Garros, failed to reach the finals of a 250 tournament. Some fans are calling him a fraud.
Agreed. Many fans are expecting Alcaraz to follow a similar trajectory as Nadal and become the next big star. However, this places too much pressure on him. He should be allowed to develop at his own pace.
Congratulations to Nico Jarry, who played exceptionally well despite the Argentine crowd being against him. The Argentinians made Alcaraz feel like one of their own.
Well, it seems that Carlos Alcaraz is involved in everything except tennis. He appears to have lost his footing.
Carlos Alcaraz is out of Buenos Aires in the semifinals. His last final was in August 2023 in Cincinnati, six months ago. He has not won a title since his famous Wimbledon victory. There is still a lot of work to be done. What does he need to change?
Serve, return, mental game, and backhand have been inconsistent. He should stop relying on lobs all the time. In a crucial moment, he had a clear opportunity to win the game but attempted a lob against a 2m tall opponent.
He should also stop showing off and trying to win points in extreme fashion. Those tactics should be left to Novak and Roger. It doesn’t come naturally to him, and he is forcing it. Instead, he should focus on learning tactics because it is evident that he is playing without any.
After his loss, the Spaniard displayed visible frustration. He must quickly recover from this setback to avoid it affecting his future performances in upcoming tournaments.
According to the Source firstsportz.com