Carlos Alcaraz produced another jaw-dropping moment at the US Open, and this time even Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey looked stunned. During Alcaraz’s fourth-round match against Tommy Paul, the Spaniard came up with a huge forehand that left McConaughey staring in disbelief from the stands. His reaction quickly went viral, adding another fun moment to Alcaraz’s impressive night.
The key moment in the final match occurred when Alcaraz was nearing yet another victory in a match without dropping a set. He hit a stunning forehand to get to match point, which clearly showed why he is considered one of the greatest players in tennis history. Alcaraz eventually defeated Paul by scores of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, successfully making it to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Among the stars watching the match was McConaughey, whose facial expression described how great Alcaraz’s shot was. Alcaraz has successfully won 18 consecutive Grand Slam matches and remains one of the favorites to win the title. He is to play either Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals, should he continue producing shots like this again.
Carlos Alcaraz steps away from tennis players’ prize money protest
Carlos Alcaraz has apparently withdrawn from the group of elite tennis players fighting for a bigger share of prize money in Grand Slams. Up until now, the Spaniard has been part of the group which has called upon the four Grand Slams to increase the players’ share of revenues from those tournaments. The group has argued that the players get only about 15% of the revenues from the Grand Slams and demands a rise in that percentage up to 22%.
Alcaraz’s decision comes after a difficult year with injuries and growing concerns about the packed tennis calendar. He has spoken openly about needing more breaks and believes the schedule is becoming too demanding for players. His wrist injury kept him out for several months this season, which has made the workload issue even more important for him.
The timing is also interesting because the US Open has already increased its total player compensation to a record $108 million, with the singles champions set to receive $5.5 million. The tournament has also introduced a $2 million player support programme and joined the other Grand Slams in creating a Player Advisory Council. Alcaraz stepping away from the protest does not necessarily mean he has dropped his concerns about player welfare. Instead, his focus appears to be more on making the tennis calendar easier for players to manage.
