Rain interrupts Carlos Alcaraz’s debut against Gael Monfils in Cincinnati

The debut of the Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz in the Cincinnati tournament, the seventh Masters 1,000 of the season, against the French Gael Monfils was suspended this morning due to the appearance of rain, when the Murcian was already on track for victory, after winning the first set (6-4), while in the second set the ‘tie-break’ had been reached. Alcaraz began his return after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the early hours of this Thursday to Friday and his debut in Cincinnati has not been calm. A storm suddenly appeared in the second set, in which the Spaniard suffered the most, reaching sudden death and with 3-1 in favor of the Frenchman. The forecasts speak of a 70% probability of precipitation in the last hours, although the duel is expected to resume this afternoon, not before 4:30 p.m. Spanish peninsular time. In the first set, Alcaraz, world number three and a recent Olympic silver medallist, had no problems in beating the veteran French player, aged 37. He only needed a little over half an hour to sign a solid 6-4 to take the first step towards victory in Mason. Despite the score being a bit tight, the Murcian showed great ease on the hard court of the American tournament, and in the third game he broke the Frenchman’s serve on his first and only break point of the first set. Thanks to his good work with his serve, the Spaniard maintained that advantage until the end, and closed out the first set on the fourth opportunity. In the second set, a much more irregular Alcaraz was seen, somewhat less firm with his serve. In fact, after a very even start to the set, Monfils went 3-2 up and 40-0 on return in a great break chance and then even had match point with 6-5 and an advantage, but in both critical situations the Spaniard saved face and kept the tie until the tie-break. In the always unpredictable sudden death, Monfils started better and went 3-1 up, just when the rain appeared forcing the organisers, after two hours of deliberation and waiting, to suspend the second round match of the tournament. This forces the match to be played this afternoon, Spanish peninsular time, and it would be strange that Alcaraz, if he wins, would have to play the third round just a few hours later, this Friday, against the Dane Holger Rune.