CINCINNATI—In a thrilling third-round match at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, Gaël Monfils pulled off a stunning upset against world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, winning 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Monfils, who trailed by a set before the match was suspended due to rain, came back strong on Friday afternoon to secure his biggest victory of the season.
When play resumed, Monfils quickly leveled the match and then outplayed Alcaraz in the final set to earn his first Top 3 win in over two years. The 37-year-old Frenchman, a crowd favorite known for his athleticism and flair, advanced to the quarterfinals in two hours and 29 minutes, marking only his second quarterfinal appearance at the Lindner Family Tennis Center since 2011.
Monfils, competing alongside his wife and fellow tennis player Elina Svitolina, had faced a challenging summer, coming into the Cincinnati tournament without a win since early July. However, he found his form in Cincinnati, starting with a victory over Alexei Popyrin in the first round.
Monfils had high praise for the 21-year-old Alcaraz before their match, calling him a “complete athlete” and likening him to legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Despite having lost both previous encounters with Alcaraz, Monfils entered the match with confidence and determination.
Alcaraz, fresh off a silver medal at the Olympics, began the match strongly, taking the first set. The second set was tightly contested, leading to a tiebreaker that Monfils led 3-1 before the rain delay. When the match resumed, Monfils held his nerve to win the tiebreaker and take the match to a deciding set.
The final set saw Monfils save two crucial break points before breaking Alcaraz’s serve. Alcaraz, visibly frustrated, smashed his racquet as Monfils consolidated his lead. Despite a valiant effort from Alcaraz to stay in the match, Monfils held firm, closing out the victory with a powerful serve and celebrating with a message to his daughter Skaï.
Later in the day, Monfils returned to the court to face Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. Despite taking the first set, Monfils eventually fell to the No. 15 seed, losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Nonetheless, his victory over Alcaraz remains a highlight of the tournament, showcasing the veteran’s resilience and skill.
