Tactical discussions were secretly recorded! Alcaraz, fed up, rarely lashes out at the organizers

Previously, in the Cincinnati Masters round of 16 against Nardi, Alcaraz firmly defended his position without hesitation. Only two matches later, the chief umpire demanded that he conceal the Evian water bottle he carried. Being ranked second globally, he was unaware of any rule barring players from bringing sponsor-branded items into the venue, so he stood his ground. This stance risked a penalty. After prolonged debate, the staff eventually took care of the bottle. Now at the US Open, Alcaraz faces yet another regulation.

Alcaraz arrived at Flushing Meadows riding the momentum from Cincinnati. However, he knew his draw was extremely tough, likely facing multiple former champions including Djokovic. So, after exiting mixed doubles with Raducanu, he immediately focused on training. But last Friday, under the New York sun during practice with Khachanov, he encountered a new problem.

The account “The Tennis Letter” posted a video of Alcaraz’s training on social media, commenting: “Alcaraz clearly dislikes these training cameras, which I understand. But why are there microphones attached? Doesn’t that mean potential opponents could eavesdrop on tactical talks? This is already an invasion of privacy; they should turn off the microphones.”

During practice, Alcaraz noticed a camera mounted directly above the players’ chairs. He was already unhappy with being recorded during training, but when he realized these cameras had microphones, he became furious because it meant any tactical discussions on court could be leaked. Consequently, Alcaraz angrily confronted the officials present.

Although the audio in the video is unclear, Alcaraz’s expression clearly shows his anger. He even signaled his team to stop talking, pointed at the camera, and then called over the officials to explain the situation to them.

This angry reaction comes as Alcaraz faces a “death draw” at the US Open. In contrast, his rival Sinner received a relatively easier path to advance. Alcaraz could meet former US Open champion Medvedev as early as the third round, and later face tough opponents like Shelton and Fritz. If he ultimately wins the title, he would not only claim another Grand Slam trophy but also reclaim the world No. 1 ranking, currently held by Sinner.

Despite the difficult road ahead, many experts predict the US Open will witness another epic showdown between Sinner and Alcaraz. Former ATP pro Bertolucci recently explained why this year’s US Open could produce a “legendary final.”

In recent years, Alcaraz has demonstrated remarkable mental toughness to overcome challenges. At this US Open, his draw might test him again, forcing him to perform at his peak. Therefore, Bertolucci, who once ranked 12th in the world, predicts fans may see another “Sincaraz” final.

He said: “In my view, the draw most likely leads to a final between Sinner and Alcaraz again. Overall, it’s quite balanced; I don’t see many potential traps. Of course, it’s a two-week tournament with some obstacles along the way, but for the world’s top two, it’s mostly manageable. Sinner might face Zverev in the semifinals, while Alcaraz could meet Fritz, Djokovic, or Rune. These are big names, but when they face one of today’s two strongest players, they often fall short.”

With Alcaraz maintaining good form and Sinner having just withdrawn from the Cincinnati final due to illness, the Spaniard has a real chance to claim the last Grand Slam of the season. Who do you think will ultimately win the US Open? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)