Alcaraz's Drop Shot Betrayal: 'It Never Let Me Down Before' After One Point Slam Upset

Carlos Alcaraz Falls to Maria Sakkari in One Point Slam Round of 16, Ousted by His Signature Drop Shot

© AFP

Arthur Millot

le 14/01/2026 à 17h27

1 min to read

Alcaraz Carlos Smith Jordan

The One Point Slam concept leaves no room for error: just one point to decide a match.

And in this format, Carlos Alcaraz saw his fate turn on a shot he typically masters better than anyone: the drop shot.

Facing Maria Sakkari, the Spaniard naturally attempted this 'drop shot' that has built his legend.

But this time, the ball didn't find its usual magic. Result: an immediate elimination.

'It's My Shot': Alcaraz's Irony After the Defeat

To justify his move, the prodigy from El Palmar chose self-deprecation at the microphone of the organization after the match:

'The drop shot is my shot. I don't know what happened, honestly. It never betrayed me, even in my worst moments, but today it didn't work.'

For the record, the competition concluded with a victory by Jordan Smith, champion of New South Wales, who won the one million Australian dollars.