"When I do it?": Nick Kyrgios & Corentin Moutet banter over Carlos Alcaraz escaping 'mental issues' label despite racket smash in Cincinnati Open loss

Corentin Moutet and Nick Kyrgios reacted to Carlos Alcaraz getting a 'different' reaction for smashing his racket during his match against Gael Monfils in the second round of the 2024 Cincinnati Open. Notably, the Spaniard lost 6-4, (5)6-7, 4-6.

Alcaraz and Monfils engaged in a blockbuster second-round match in Cincinnati which was suspended in the second set due to rain, with Alcaraz in the lead. However, the momentum shifted in the French's favor when the play resumed as he managed to take the second set and the decider to knock the second seed out.

During the deciding set, when the Spaniard went a break and 1-3 down, he unleashed his frustration by smashing his racquet. The commentator, though, didn't condone Alcaraz's actions and felt that it was a positive sign since the Spaniard expressed his desire to desperately win this match.

Corentin Moutet reacted to a clip of the commentary on X (formerly Twitter) and mentioned how he was told he had a 'mental issue' when he smashed his racket.

"When I do it I’ve got 'mental issue' 😂," Moutet tweeted.

Nick Kyrgios responded to Moutet's tweet and jokingly questioned the response to him smashing rackets.

"Haha what about when do it? Hahahahahaah," Kyrgios replied.

Corentin Moutet later clarified that he didn't mean to judge Carlos Alcaraz, but just wanted to point out how the reaction of the commentators was different for different people doing the same thing.

“I dont judge Carlos here of course He is a legend already and he behave amazing I’m making fun of how the reaction of the commentator can be different on a same gesture,” Moutet clarified.

"It was really, really tough for me" - Carlos Alcaraz opens up about his defeat to Gael Monfils at the Cincinnati Open

Carlos Alcaraz (Image Source: Getty)

Speaking on his defeat, Carlos Alcaraz called the match tough and said that it was the worst performance of his career. He said that he was surprised by the way the ball moved faster and bounced higher on the Center Court than on the other courts.

"It was really, really tough for me, I feel like it was the worst match that I have ever played in my career. Couldn't play, honestly," the 21-year-old.

"I've been practicing really well in this tournament. The previous days I was feeling great, hitting the ball clear, moving well. Probably I felt like it was another sport playing on the center court than the other courts. The balls were faster on the Center Court, bounce much, much more than other courts," Alcaraz said.

los Alcaraz will look to shift his focus toward the final Grand Slam of the year - the US Open - where he will look to complete the Calendar Surface Slam (Winning a Major on each surface in a year)