Gaël Monfils pulled off a stunning upset at the 2024 Cincinnati Open, defeating World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a thrilling third-round match. The French veteran was trailing by a set but led 3-1 in the second-set tiebreaker when rain forced a suspension on Thursday evening. Upon resumption on Friday, Monfils completed his first Top 3 victory in over two years, taking the match in two hours and 29 minutes.
Monfils, a fan favorite at 37 years old, showcased his resilience and experience, overcoming Alcaraz to reach his first quarterfinal in Cincinnati since 2011. This victory marks his first win over Alcaraz in three meetings and his first Top 5 win of the season. The match was filled with tension, particularly in the final set where Monfils saved two break points and capitalized on Alcaraz’s frustration to secure the decisive break.
Monfils, competing alongside his wife Elina Svitolina, will face No. 15 seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals later in the day.
