‘It’s an absolute joke’ – Fellow pro slams criticism of Carlos Alcaraz
Teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz has been unfairly criticised for his US open exit according to a prominent ATP star.
World number 24 Reilly Opelka is bemused by commentators who said Alcaraz showed weakness by retiring from his quarter-final clash with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
After battling through two five set epics in the previous two rounds, covering almost eight hours on-court, the 18-year-old cut his last eight encounter short in order to preserve his body and ensure his fitness.
Opelka defended the star for his actions, particularly responding to a tweet that labelled the match a ‘sudden surrender’ that was ‘very disappointing’ and ‘hope[fully] not a pattern for the 18-year-old’.
“The only thing that is a pattern here is the tennis media being absolute joke,” Opelka said in his Twitter address.
“Carlos [Alcaraz] is the youngest male player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final in over 30 years. Yet somehow you manage to come up with this?”
The only thing that is a pattern here is tennis media being an absolute joke. Carlos is the youngest male player to reach a Grand Slam QF in over 30 years. Yet somehow you manage to come up with this? https://t.co/wguJqiVPVI
— Reilly Opelka (@ReillyOpelka) September 8, 2021
While not the ideal ending to his brilliant US Open run, Alcaraz does not regret his decision to end the battle with Auger-Aliassime early.
“It’s really tough to end a great tournament like this. I had no choice to still play,” he said after the encounter.
“First of all I have to take care of my body to stay healthy. It’s a long match and I didn’t feel good to still play, so I had to retire.”
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