Alcaraz explodes against Shanghai balls: "I can't play like this"

Carlos Alcaraz is a bundle of nerves in his third-round match at the ATP Shanghai against Zizou Bergs. The Spanish tennis player lost the first set after a catastrophic game at 5-5, and immediately erupted and launched a harsh criticism of the tournament balls, as he is feeling very uncomfortable playing and every bounce seems to be different.

Everything seemed to be progressing normally until 5-5, and even Alcaraz had recovered the break that Bergs had made at 2-2. However, in that game something short-circuited inside Carlos's mind, who looked to his bench and did not hold back. "How can it be that one ball bounces and another slides? I can’t play like this, I don’t understand. I can’t play by intuition," he stated. 

Samu López calms Alcaraz

After closing the first set, Bergs requested a toilet break that lasted almost 10 minutes, which led to a long conversation between Carlos Alcaraz and Samu López in which the Spanish coach tried to calm his pupil and give him some advice. "The slice is disrupting your rhythm. Hit more topspin to the backhand side. If you have to miss, miss big. And serve more second serves to the body," he advised Alcaraz, who was complaining that nothing was going as it did in practice. 

For now, the second set remains evenly matched, although it is true that Carlos is less inspired than in other matches. Still, his bench has made it clear at all times that this type of match is very long and that he can turn it around if he maintains a positive mindset, something that at times was not seen in the first set.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz estalla contras pelotas de Shanghái: "No puedo jugar así"