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Carlos Alcaraz exits Miami Open in loose defeat to David Goffin

Carlos Alcaraz exits Miami Open in loose defeat to David Goffin

New York Times22-03-2025

Friday night in Miami, another player exploited Carlos Alcaraz's susceptibility to falling into a tennis trough while his opponent hits their peak. David Goffin, the former world No. 3 from Belgium, came back from losing the first set to knock an out-of-sorts Alcaraz out of the Miami Open, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
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'A poor level from me,' Alcaraz, the current world No. 3, told reporters after the match.
'Not feeling great or confident physically, it's really tough to get back,' he said.
Alcaraz, 21, has signaled that he is aware of his propensity to disappear in matches, but even remedying that will do little to cancel out another phenomenon in which his opponents readily seem to find their best level against him, even briefly. Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong did it at last year's French Open, which Alcaraz won; Frances Tiafoe and Ugo Humbert did the same at Wimbledon, which Alcaraz also won.
Humbert repeated the trick at the Paris Masters last fall — in conditions which favor the Frenchman's sliding, flat, left-handed game — while the Czechs Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka did it in Shanghai and Doha respectively. Against Jack Draper at Indian Wells last week, he recovered from a weak first set, but dropped off again in the third.
World No. 55 Goffin, 34, did it Friday night, going on the attack whenever he could and sliding serves out of Alcaraz's reach on the forehand side. When he couldn't attack, he let Alcaraz make mistakes. Playing Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is largely an exercise in 'attack or be attacked,' but Sinner's greater solidity in the face of any barrages has let him come through them unscathed, while a brief peak against Alcaraz is more likely to lead to a change in match state.
He may take solace in having little to defend before the French Open as the circuit transitions to clay.
Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 8, joined Alcaraz in making a surprise exit by losing to Jaume Munar, the world No. 56. Munar, whose hard-court game has improved through 2025 thanks to greater aggression, ultimately dominated Medvedev in winning 6-2, 6-3. Medvedev again ranted against the balls in use, questioning how they could be suitable for a professional tournament, before receiving two code violations for smashing his racket.
Goffin will face Brandon Nakashima of the U.S. in the third round; Munar will play Gael Monfils of France.

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Coco Gauff has three break points. She takes none
Coco Gauff has three break points. She takes none

New York Times

time2 hours ago

  • New York Times

Coco Gauff has three break points. She takes none

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Alcaraz stuns Sinner in all-time great French Open final
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Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Alcaraz stuns Sinner in all-time great French Open final

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Coco Gauff, 21, just won the French Open. She says her parents have her back in very different ways.
Coco Gauff, 21, just won the French Open. She says her parents have her back in very different ways.

Business Insider

time3 hours ago

  • Business Insider

Coco Gauff, 21, just won the French Open. She says her parents have her back in very different ways.

At just 21, Coco Gauff secured her second Grand Slam title by winning the French Open on Saturday. But the Gen Z tennis star knows that it wouldn't have been possible without her mom or dad. During a post-match press conference, Gauff spoke about how her parents' unwavering support helped set her up for success. "You know, they're definitely someone who listens to my opinion the most, and I think sometimes we hear crazy stories of tennis parents and all that, and I can say I don't relate to that," Gauff said. Gauff said her father respected her request that he take a step back from her tennis career — a move she said "ended up being a great thing for both of us." Her father, Corey Gauff, was her primary coach until 2023. The tennis champion also said that she told her mother, Candi Gauff, that she "needed her to be on the road more." "I have my physio, but you know, being in a team full of men, I was like, I need some estrogen and some female energy here, so I asked my mom to go. You know, women just notice more things," Gauff said. Gauff said she was glad her parents were around to celebrate her win with her. "They put so much sacrifice into this, so I'm glad that I get to experience it with them," she added. Following her French Open win, the tennis star was photographed in the stands giving her parents a big hug. The biggest of hugs 🧡 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2025 Following her win, Gauff's father spoke to Bleacher Report about how he supported his daughter throughout the tournament. "I try and find a quiet corner and look at it on my iPad, and then I make notes, and sometimes I'm texting her and texting the coaches if I see something I think they can't see," her father said. In a 2018 interview with The Sun Sentinel, a daily paper in Florida, Gauff's parents shared that they both left their professions to support their daughter's tennis career. Her mother stepped away from teaching to homeschool Gauff, while her father left his job to become her full-time coach. In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Gauff's parents shared that their experiences as former college athletes helped them guide their daughter through her journey in professional tennis. "I think it helps parents when they have played as high as college or even pro," her father told the Times. "You better understand the process, and so you don't get too jittery about it. You don't feel like you're running out of time, so you are not rushed. You kind of meet your kid where they are at."

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