Monfils stuns Alcaraz in Cincinnati

Gael Monfils earned his biggest win in more than two years on Friday at the Cincinnati Open, where he stunned World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to capture the ninth Top 3 victory of his career.

Play was cancelled on Thursday night due to rain, with Alcaraz leading Monfils 6-4, 6-6(1/3). However, the Frenchman came out firing upon the resumption, remaining composed to build on his early lead in the tie-break and seal the set on his third set point.

In windy conditions, Monfils was the more consistent in the decider to inflict just an eighth defeat of the year on Alcaraz. The 37-year-old saved all four break points he faced and rode the momentum he had gained in the second-set tie-break to earn his first Top 3 win since he beat then-No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Daniil Medvedev in March 2022 in Indian Wells.

GLORIOUS GAEL ✨@Gael_Monfils stuns Alcaraz in an epic three set encounter to advance in @CincyTennis !#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/ANpoZg5eJ8

Alcaraz was competing in his first hard-court match since March in Miami, where he reached the quarter-finals. The 21-year-old has since lifted major trophies at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

The five-time Masters 1000 titlist Alcaraz struggled to find his usual level against Monfils and was visibly frustrated in the third set, smashing his racquet after failing to break Monfils’ serve at 1-2 in the decider.

Alcaraz continued to push but was ultimately unable to turn proceedings around against Monfils, who held firm on serve to advance. With his two-hour, 30-minute triumph, Monfils became the second oldest player to defeat a Top 3 opponent this century, joining Roger Federer, who at 38 beat World No. 2 Novak Djokovic at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019.

Monfils pumped his chest after sealing victory before he let out a roar and embraced the support from the crowd. The former World No. 6, who beat Montreal champion Alexei Popyrin in the first round, will need to pull double duty on Friday in Ohio, where he will return later to face 15th seed Holger Rune in the third round.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]