Carlos Alcaraz Risks Penalty After Heated Exchange with Umpire at Cincinnati Open

Updated on: Aug 14, 2025 05:37 pm IST

Carlos Alcaraz May Face Penalty After Heated Exchange at Cincinnati Open

Carlos Alcaraz is at risk of suspension following a heated dispute with the umpire during his recent win at the Cincinnati Open. The second seed reached the round of 16 by defeating Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4.

An incident during the first set overshadowed his victory. Umpire Greg Allensworth instructed Alcaraz to cover a logo on his water bottle, highlighting it conflicted with the tournament’s sponsors. Alcaraz refused, engaging in a spirited argument and leaving the logo visible on the bottle.

“It’s not my fault,” said Alcaraz. “Why should I cover it if it’s not my fault? Now, you’re saying it’s my responsibility to cover it? No, I won’t.”

While the organizers have not yet commented, Alcaraz could face a significant fine due to this incident. Despite this distraction, he dominated the first set in 27 minutes, quickly leading by winning 13 of the first 14 points. Although trailing in the second set 2-4, he regained control and won four consecutive games, finishing the match triumphantly.

Next up, Alcaraz will compete against Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals. Following his win, he chose to focus on his performance rather than the controversy. “This match has been my best in this tournament so far,” he remarked.

“From the beginning of the tournament, my goal was to improve each day, in practice and in matches. I think I’ve achieved that, and I’m proud. I’m pleased with how I played today.”

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