'A crazy match' - Carlos Alcaraz falls to Sebastian Korda in three sets in windy conditions at the Monte Carlo Masters

Carlos Alcaraz has been knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters in only the second round after losing 7-6(2) 6-7(5) 6-3 to Sebastian Korda. The world No. 11 was expected to make a deep run in the Masters competition having won the Miami Open last month.

Ad/> But the Spaniard was unable to cope with the American — who he beat in the 2021 ATP Next Gen final last year — on Court Rainier III in a match which lasted three hours and one minute. ATP Monte CarloRuud says 'rare talent' Alcaraz has already earned 'a lot of respect' on tourYESTERDAY AT 19:37 Korda is the first player outside the top 10 to beat Alcaraz since November. Alcaraz's win-loss record is now 18-3 in 2022 and 6-1 on clay.

Korda will play reigning Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz in the next round after he beat 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3 4-6 6-4. “It was nice to get the victory today," Korda, who is making his Monte Carlo debut, said after the match. «I stayed calm and believed in my returning.

It was super tough, every time he threw up the ball it moved around. It was a crazy match.» Korda raced into a 4-2 lead in blustery conditions in the opening set before Alcaraz fought back with three straight games of his own. 'Mission impossible' — Djokovic ran out of gas in loss to Davidovich Fokina Nadal to miss Barcelona Open, no fixed return date Alcaraz twice failed to serve out the set and Korda forced a tie-break which the 21-year-old took the lead in.