Carlos Alcaraz has come under fire for attending a bullfighting event after his shock defeat in the semi-finals of the US Open.

Alcaraz was the defending champion at this year's New York major but lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final, depriving tennis fans of another epic clash between himself and Novak Djokovic.

After his defeat, the 20-year-old returned to Spain, where he was spotted attending a bullfighting event at the Plaza de Toros de La Condomina on Monday, September 11. The two-time Grand Slam champion received a standing ovation from local fans and met with bullfighter Alejandro Talavante.

However, his presence at the controversial sporting event has received a lot of backlash on social media, particularly from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The organization referred to the sport as 'torture', highlighting that a lot of young people in Spain do not agree with bullfighting. 

"Tennis is a sport; animal abuse is NOT @CarlosAlcaraz! STOP supporting bullfighting!

"CARLOS ALCARAZ, BULLFIGHTING IS TORTURE, NOT CULTURE. There’s nothing entertaining about the stabbing & torturing of animals-& the majority of young people in Spain reject bullfighting as the bloodsport it is. Please don’t support bullfighting and pledge to never attend another fight again," they wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Bullfighting has existed in Spain since 711 CE. Those who support the sport often argue that they are conserving a tradition. However, many animal rights activists condemn bullfighting as cruel and inhumane, pointing out that the bull often suffers a great deal of stress and dies in a painful manner.

Several fans have echoed PETA's sentiment online.

"Just terrible @carlosalcaraz If anybody doesn't understand the severity of bullfighting, please do some research online, it goes beyond "culture" and "tradition", wrote one.

"@carlosalcaraz..this “sport” is cruel, brutal & heartbreaking. How anyone can watch the agonising torture of animals while smiling & clapping is horrendous," added another.