Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 3 seed and a favorite in the men's draw at the U.S. Open, suffered a surprising defeat in the second round on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Facing off against 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp, Alcaraz found himself trailing early and was unable to mount a comeback, ultimately losing in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
Alcaraz, who had been on a 15-match Grand Slam unbeaten streak, expressed his struggles during the match, citing a battle against himself in his mind. The young Spanish player, who had recently won the French Open and Wimbledon, as well as a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, admitted that a packed tennis schedule may have contributed to his lack of energy.
Van de Zandschulp, a 28-year-old from the Netherlands, capitalized on Alcaraz's uncharacteristic errors and dominated the match with aggressive play, particularly at the net. The Dutch player's unexpected victory was highlighted by his success in winning points on 28 of his 35 net approaches.
The match was characterized by Alcaraz's struggles to find his rhythm, as he failed to produce winners and was outplayed by his opponent's powerful shots. Despite a brief resurgence in the third set, Alcaraz was unable to sustain his momentum, ultimately succumbing to van de Zandschulp's consistent play.
Van de Zandschulp's triumph sets up a third-round clash with No. 25 seed Jack Draper of Britain, as he continues his unexpected run at the U.S. Open. The Dutch player, who had a modest season record coming into the tournament, expressed his disbelief at the outcome, emphasizing the importance of composure in facing top-ranked opponents.
Alcaraz's early exit marks a significant upset in the men's draw and underscores the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tennis. The defeat ends Alcaraz's impressive streak and serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by even the most accomplished players in the sport.
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