Carlos Alcaraz fought back after losing the first set to defeat Karen Khachanov 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 in the ATP 500 Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday, February 19. However, in a rare occurrence, the World No. 1 lost his cool and snapped at the chair umpire, Marija Cicak, over a time violation warning.
Alcaraz received the warning in the ninth game of the opening set. The players had just finished a lengthy rally, and since the Spaniard won the point, he took time to celebrate and use his towel. As soon as he was warned, the 22-year-old walked up to the umpire to discuss the matter.
Here’s the conversation between Alcaraz and Cicak:
Cicak: I stopped the time.
Carlos: No you didn’t.
Cicak: I did. I stopped time at 25 seconds when it started. Then you got the towel. Then I started the clock again.
Carlos: How much time did you stop the clock? Tell me.
Cicak: Carlos, I stopped it til you reached there. I stopped it at 25 seconds til you actually reached the towel.
Carlos: Alright. So I’m not allowed to go to the towel.
Cicak: I stopped it til you reached the area there where you asked the kid to get the towel.
Carlos: I’m not allowed to go to the towel. I’m not allowed.
Cicak: Yes I understand. But I can’t do anything.
The Spaniard continued to express his frustration while sitting on his bench after the game, as he said:
“The ATP rules are always sh*t, they’re sh*t.”
When Carlos Alcaraz and the chair umpire were engaged in the argument, Karen Khachanov apparently asked the official to cancel the time violation warning. However, Cicak said it was not possible.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz has now won all 10 of his matches this season, having won the Australian Open earlier this month. He also improved his head-to-head record against Khachanov to 6-0.
“Really Proud” – Carlos Alcaraz Reflects On His Qatar Open QF With Karen Khachanov
Carlos Alcaraz failed to convert a set point in the first set against Karen Khachanov during their Qatar Open quarterfinal clash. However, the seven-time Grand Slam champion showed his fighting spirit and eventually won the match in two hours and 27 minutes, reaching the semifinals in Qatar for the first time.
In his on-court interview, Alcaraz said (via ATP Tour):
“It was a really close and tight match. In the first set, I just had a few points that I couldn’t make. Karen was playing great. I knew I had my chances, but I just didn’t take them in the first set, so it was time to keep going and keep fighting and wait for my chances and try to make it. In the second set, I did it, so I’m really proud of the way I did it and fought.”
Alcaraz fired eight aces and 41 winners while winning 77% of his first-serve points against the seventh-seeded Russian. He will square off against the defending champion, Andrey Rublev, in the semifinals. Rublev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(2) in the quarterfinals.
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