Carlos Alcaraz Stunned by Botic van de Zandschulp at US Open
Match Summary
In a shocking upset at the US Open, Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament's top seed, was defeated by 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp with a score of 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday night. The loss came after Alcaraz fell behind two sets to none—something he had never previously overcome in his career.
Key Moments
After double-faulting and trailing by two sets, Alcaraz appeared frustrated, gesturing to his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, as if to express confusion and frustration. Despite a strong start to the season, including wins at the French Open and Wimbledon, Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm against Van de Zandschulp.
The match marked the end of Alcaraz's 15-match Grand Slam unbeaten streak. He admitted that he was battling his own emotions and lacked the calmness needed to perform effectively. “It was a fight against myself, in my mind, during the match,” Alcaraz said. “A lot of emotions that I couldn't control.”
Unexpected Outcome
The defeat was surprising given Alcaraz's recent dominance and his standing as the No. 1 pre-tournament favorite. Prior to this, Alcaraz had never lost before the quarterfinals in any of his previous US Open appearances. This early exit is his earliest defeat in any Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021.
Van de Zandschulp, a 28-year-old from the Netherlands, was not widely expected to pull off such an upset. His season record of 11-18 prior to the week and his single Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance in 2021 contrasted sharply with Alcaraz’s recent achievements. Van de Zandschulp's aggressive play at the net, winning 28 of 35 net points, proved crucial to his victory.
Match Analysis
Van de Zandschulp's powerful serves, reaching speeds up to 132 mph, and aggressive forehands overwhelmed Alcaraz. The opening set was particularly one-sided, with Alcaraz failing to produce a single winner and being outscored 24-13. Although Alcaraz showed some resilience in the third set, his consistent errors allowed Van de Zandschulp to maintain control and secure the win.
Van de Zandschulp will face No. 25 seed Jack Draper in the third round. Reflecting on his victory, Van de Zandschulp said, “Of course I had some nerves, but I think if you want to beat one of these guys, you have to keep your calm and keep your head there.”
Historical Context
Alcaraz’s loss marks the first time since 2006 that a top-three men’s seed has exited the US Open in the first two rounds. It is also the earliest exit by a pre-tournament favorite since Patrick Rafter in 1999. Previously, Alcaraz had an impressive 25-1 record in Grand Slam matches against players ranked outside the top 50.
Information from ESPN News Services and ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this report.
