"It has hurt me a lot": Carlos Alcaraz left deflated and needing answers after shock Jarry defeat at Argentina Open

Carlos Alcaraz was defeated in a shock semi-final loss to Nicolas Jarry at the 2024 Argentina Open Buenos Aires 7-6(2), 6-3 and was left deflated and hurt after being defeated by the Chilean.

Alcaraz was expected to win the tournament with his relative level compared to the rest of the players involved in the tournament. Jarry now faces Facundo Diaz Acosta in the final with the latter seeing off Daniel Altmaier, Francisco Cerundolo, Dusan Lajovic and Facundo Coria. A top star in Jarry facing a home hero. But Alcaraz now moves on to the Rio Open and will aim to put it right after a poor end to the week. He remains titleless since winning Wimbledon and devoid of title winning form.

“It has been a difficult defeat for me, it has hurt me a lot. There are many things to improve. The level has to rise, I have played good tennis but far from my real level," said Alcaraz.

“I have prepared well, physically I feel good. But this type of defeat hurt, you have to know how to read the games better and from there move forward, there is no other option.”

But despite the defeat, he has taken aspects to move onto the second part of his South American Clay Court adventure before defending Indian Wells during the Sunshine Double. “It has been a complicated tournament,” added Alcaraz. “It is the first tournament on clay in a long time and even if I felt good at the tennis level, I have played against quite uncomfortable players.

“With Jarry, it was difficult to enter the match. I have had many opportunities that I didn’t take. And when you waste them against players like Jarry it takes its toll on you. It’s been a complicated week but I took away many things to improve.”