Monfils quickly won a second-set tiebreaker then held serve throughout the third set to finish off a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over the reigning Cincinnati Open runner-up.
"I felt like it was the worst match that I've ever played in my career," Alcaraz said in his post-match press conference.
Gael Monfils serves to Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during during their second-round match in the Cincinnati Open Cara Owsley/The Enquirer
The 37-year-old Monfils is the second-oldest player to defeat a top-3 player this century, trailing only Roger Federer, who at 38 defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals. Monfils was 8-30 all-time against top-3 players heading into the matchup with Alcaraz.
The 21-year-old phenom destroyed a racket after Monfils held serve for a 3-1 lead in the third set and couldn't break the elder Frenchman, who is one victory away from his first Cincinnati Open quarterfinals appearance since 2011.
"I don't know what happened," Alcaraz said, adding that Center Court was faster than the surfaces on previous practice sessions. "I couldn't control myself. I couldn't be better. So this match, it was impossible to win, and that's all."
Alcaraz heads to New York, Monfils plays again Friday
Alcaraz needed at least a quarterfinals berth in Cincinnati to pass Novak Djokovic for the No. 2 spot in the ATP Rankings. Now staying put at No. 3, Alcaraz heads to New York looking to win his second U.S. Open in three years.
Monfils will play during Friday's night session against Holger Rune for a spot in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals.
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