World No 2 Alcaraz has not claimed a championship title since his victory over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in July of last year. His most recent appearance in a final occurred in August when he was defeated by the Serbian at the Cincinnati Open.
Being the sole top-10 player in the Buenos Aires tournament, it was expected that Alcaraz would have a smooth journey. However, his path was cut short in the semi-finals by world No 20 Nicolas Jarry. This win marked one of the most significant achievements of Jarry’s career, with a final score of 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.
Throughout the match, the top seed displayed signs of frustration. As Jarry approached victory in the final game of the second set, Alcaraz threw his racket to the ground after losing a point on the Chilean’s serve at 40-40. The racket bounced across the court, and shortly after, Alcaraz exited the tournament as Jarry secured the win on his second match point.
Unfortunately, no video footage of this racket throw was available. However, a viewer decided to check their stream for confirmation.
There is no doubt that Alcaraz will bounce back and return to his previous level of performance. It is crucial for him to learn how to manage his emotions effectively. Having already reached the top level of the sport, he possesses the necessary resources to work on strengthening his mental game.
The 20-year-old openly discussed his challenges after the match, acknowledging the need to improve his match analysis skills. He expressed the difficulty of his defeat and the impact it had on him. Alcaraz recognizes that there are many areas in which he needs to progress, as his current level of play falls far short of his true potential.
Despite these setbacks, Alcaraz remains physically fit, which is a positive aspect. With dedication and hard work, he believes he can continue to improve. However, he acknowledges the challenges that come with seizing opportunities.
One encouraging aspect is that Alcaraz recognizes the areas in which he can improve. He understands the importance of analyzing matches more effectively and delivering his best performance during tense moments. He admits that he lacked this ability during critical points, such as 0-30 and break-points, and hopes to approach these situations differently in the future.
Alcaraz will not have much time to dwell on his recent defeat as he will be competing in the Rio Open next week. Last year, he finished as the runner-up to Cameron Norrie in this tournament.
According to the Source tennis365.com