Carlos Alcaraz knocked out of US Open by Botic van de Zandschulp in second-round stunner
If Carlos Alcaraz was surprised by the resistance he faced in the first round, he has to be downright shocked now. The 2022 U.S. Open champion, considered the world’s next great tennis star and the betting favorite in Flushing, was stunningly ousted Thurs
Unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp stunned the tennis world by ousting world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open, snapping the 19-year-old Spaniard's 15-match Grand Slam winning streak.
Despite being a heavy favorite, Alcaraz was overwhelmed by van de Zandschulp's impressive baseline play and net game, losing in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. The 74th-ranked Dutchman won 28 of 35 points at the net and broke Alcaraz's serve six times, including twice in the decisive third set.
Alcaraz admitted to being confused and unable to manage van de Zandschulp's unexpected level of play. "I thought he was going to give me more points. He didn't make a lot of mistakes that I thought he was going to [make]. So I was confused a little bit," Alcaraz said.
Van de Zandschulp, who had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam before, was thrilled by his victory. "Actually, I'm a little bit [at a] loss for words," he said. "It's been an incredible evening; first time for the night sessions at Arthur Ashe. Unbelievable night."
The second-round exit is Alcaraz's earliest in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021. It also snapped his streak of seven consecutive major quarterfinal appearances, including his US Open title last year.
Van de Zandschulp will now face No. 25 Jack Draper of Britain in the third round, while Alcaraz's hopes of becoming the third player to win the US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the same calendar year were dashed.
Despite being a heavy favorite, Alcaraz was overwhelmed by van de Zandschulp's impressive baseline play and net game, losing in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. The 74th-ranked Dutchman won 28 of 35 points at the net and broke Alcaraz's serve six times, including twice in the decisive third set.
Alcaraz admitted to being confused and unable to manage van de Zandschulp's unexpected level of play. "I thought he was going to give me more points. He didn't make a lot of mistakes that I thought he was going to [make]. So I was confused a little bit," Alcaraz said.
Van de Zandschulp, who had never advanced past the fourth round of a Grand Slam before, was thrilled by his victory. "Actually, I'm a little bit [at a] loss for words," he said. "It's been an incredible evening; first time for the night sessions at Arthur Ashe. Unbelievable night."
The second-round exit is Alcaraz's earliest in a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021. It also snapped his streak of seven consecutive major quarterfinal appearances, including his US Open title last year.
Van de Zandschulp will now face No. 25 Jack Draper of Britain in the third round, while Alcaraz's hopes of becoming the third player to win the US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the same calendar year were dashed.