Carlos Alcaraz blasts ridiculous time rule imposed by the chair umpire during his Miami Open defeat

Carlos Alcaraz has failed to close the gap on Jannik Sinner at the top of the rankings with losses in Indian Wells and Miami.

Carlos Alcaraz blasts ridiculous time rule imposed by the chair umpire during his Miami Open defeat

Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Tennis Panorama News)

Carlos Alcaraz spoke openly about his on-court argument with the chair umpire after his loss to David Goffin in Miami. The world No. 3 was defeated 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 by the 55th-ranked Belgian. During the second set, Alcaraz complained about the serve clock rule but later said it did not affect the match.

Recently, Alcaraz has had several arguments on the tennis tour. Last year, he voiced concerns about the ATP tour schedule. His willingness to speak up has been noticed by many.

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In no way did it make me lose focus. I simply told the chair umpire that the time rule is ridiculous, they want to make tennis a bit faster, make sure that it is, but the margins are ridiculous. I finished the point at the net and barely had time to do my routines, nor for the ball kid to do their job, it was noticeable they were a bit confused, not knowing exactly what to do. Ultimately, you waste more time going to the towel, that’s why I complained because I feel the time we have from finishing the point until requesting new balls is ridiculous.

Carlos Alcaraz said following his loss

At the start of his career, Alcaraz was known for being shy. Over time, he has developed a stronger personality and is more outspoken. While some admire his growth, others believe his new attitude is hurting his focus. They argue that his increasing confrontations may be a distraction on the court.

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David Goffin’s strategy against Carlos Alcaraz

David Goffin secured his third straight win against a Top 3 player with his victory over Carlos Alcaraz. He now leads their head-to-head record 2-1. The Belgian also defeated Alcaraz in Astana in 2022 and beat World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in Shanghai last October.

Carlos Alcaraz and David Goffin
Carlos Alcaraz and David Goffin (via Tennis Majors)

Goffin has reached the third round in Miami for the first time since 2019. He is the first player to defeat a top two seed in the event’s opening round since David Ferrer beat Zverev that same year. He is also the first player ranked outside the Top 30 to beat Alcaraz this season.

According to Infosys ATP Stats, Goffin won 17 of 24 net points. Alcaraz struggled with 43 unforced errors, including 28 on his forehand, which also caused problems in his loss to Jack Draper at Indian Wells. Goffin will now face American Brandon Nakashima in the third round. Nakashima advanced after a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Roberto Carballes Baena.

What does the future hold for Carlos Alcaraz?

For now, Carlos Alcaraz cannot think beyond the clay court season. So far in 2025, he has won only one ATP title, which came at the Rotterdam Open. Moreover, he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where he was chasing a Career Grand Slam.

Carlos Alcaraz (4)
Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X)

The clay court season gives Alcaraz a chance to redeem himself on a new surface. He has had success on clay before. In 2022 and 2023, he won his first Masters 1000 titles on clay, both at the Madrid Open.

In 2024, after an injury-plagued clay court season, Alcaraz ended strong by winning his first Roland Garros title. This was followed by his first Olympic silver medal at the Paris Olympics.