Draper earns controversial win while Alcaraz plays 'worst match'

Jack Draper hit Felix Auger-Aliassime successful arguable circumstances astatine nan Cincinnati Open arsenic Carlos Alcaraz smashed his racquet during a conclusion by Gael Monfils.

Draper emerged a 5-7 6-4 6-4 winner, contempt Auger-Aliassime arguing pinch nan umpire that nan Briton should not person been awarded nan last constituent of their last-16 match.

The Canadian claimed nan shot had deed nan framework of Draper's racket and past nan level connected lucifer point, saying his force "shanked it connected nan floor", though nan umpire disagreed.

Auger-Aliassime yet conceded defeat, though replays appeared to backmost up his claim.

"I was excessively engaged looking astatine him," said Draper during his on-court question and reply pursuing nan match.

"I didn't spot what happened. I looked astatine nan umpire consecutive distant to spot if he called a double bounce aliases not.

"As a player, I'm trying to attraction connected what I'm doing. I can't make that telephone if I'm not 100%.

"I said, erstwhile nan supervisor came on, that if it was a double bounce and that he saw it intelligibly past I would person 100% replayed nan point."

Auger-Aliassime faced Draper having beaten Casper Ruud 6-3 6-1 earlier successful nan time successful a lucifer delayed by rain.

Draper, who will play Holger Rune successful nan quarter-finals, added: "We've had a agelong conflict retired present and it would beryllium ultra unfair connected Felix if nan lucifer was won successful that benignant of way.

"I really couldn't make that telephone myself because I really didn't spot it."

Draper hit Stefanos Tsitsipas successful nan erstwhile information and, successful consequence to nan lucifer constituent controversy, nan Greek posted a connection connected societal media, external saying, "oh my".

He added: "I don’t deliberation I person ever seen a changeable for illustration this."

Alcaraz was beaten 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by France's Monfils successful a 2nd information lucifer carried complete from nan erstwhile time because of rain.

The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has won nan French Open and Wimbledon titles this year, smashed his racquet aft failing to break Monfils, 37, successful nan 3rd set.

"I felt sometimes that I wanted to break nan racquet," said Alcaraz. "It ne'er happened before, because I could power myself successful those situations, successful those feelings.

"Most of nan clip I could power myself and it could spell amended successful nan matches aliases successful nan business that I've been emotion before.

"Today, I couldn't power myself, because, arsenic I said, I was emotion that I was not playing immoderate benignant of tennis."

The lucifer resumed successful a 2nd group tie-break which Monfils won earlier claiming nan decider for victory.

"I felt for illustration it was nan worst lucifer that I ever played successful my career," said Alcaraz.

"I couldn't play. Honestly, I've been practicing really good present successful this tournament. The erstwhile days, I was emotion great, hitting nan shot clear, moving well. I don't cognize what happened.

"I don't cognize really I felt for illustration this, but I couldn't power myself. I couldn't beryllium better. So this match, it was intolerable to win."

Monfils went connected to play Rune later connected during nan aforesaid time and was beaten 3-6 6-3 6-4 by nan Dane.

Meanwhile, women's world number 1 Iga Swiatek made it into nan Cincinnati Open quarter-finals pinch a comfortable 6-2 6-2 triumph against Marta Kostyuk.

She will play Mirra Andreeva, who hit Italy's Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini 3-6 6-3 6-2.

"I'm happy I was solid. I was disciplined pinch each nan things that I wanted to return attraction of," said Swiatek.

Aryna Sabalenka secured a 7-5 6-2 triumph against Elina Svitolina, while Jessica Pegula won a delayed second-round lucifer against Karolina Muchova 5-7 6-4 6-2 earlier beating Taylor Townsend 6-2 6-3 successful her 2nd lucifer of nan day.