In a stunning turn of events at the US Open 2024, third seed Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out in the second round after a straight-sets defeat by World No. 74 Botic van de Zandschulp. The Spanish tennis star, who was widely expected to make a deep run in the tournament, lost 1-6, 5-7, 4-6, in a match that lasted just over two hours on Friday.
Carlos Alcaraz bid for History
Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit marks a significant upset in his bid to become only the third man in the Open Era to win the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in the same year.
The 2022 US Open champion had previously made at least the quarter-finals in his three appearances in New York, making this defeat his earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2021.
Van de Zandschulp delivers career-defining performance
Botic van de Zandschulp, who has now secured only his second career victory over a top-five player, expressed his disbelief after the match. “I’m a little lost for words,” he admitted, clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of his achievement.
The Dutchman’s night session debut on Arthur Ashe Stadium was nothing short of spectacular, with his composed play and strategic net points proving too much for Alcaraz.
Series of disappointments for Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat in New York follows a string of disappointing performances. In Cincinnati, he struggled with his form, culminating in an emotional outburst where he smashed his racquet and later described it as the ‘worst match’ of his career. Prior to that, he lost in the final of the Paris Olympics and publicly apologised to Spain for his performance.
On Thursday, the signs of Alcaraz’s continued struggles were evident. His game was riddled with 27 unforced errors, and he won only 60% of his first-serve points. Despite being the defending champion, Alcaraz failed to maintain his intensity, allowing his 28-year-old opponent to dominate key moments in the match.
Historical Win for Van de Zandschulp
Van de Zandschulp’s victory makes him the first Dutchman to defeat a top-three player at a Grand Slam since Richard Krajicek’s win over Pete Sampras in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 1996. This win also marks the first time a Dutch player has beaten a top seed at the US Open since Paul Haarhuis’s triumph over Boris Becker in 1991.
Looking ahead, Van de Zandschulp will face Britain’s Jack Draper in the third round as he continues his impressive run in the tournament. Meanwhile, Alcaraz will need to regroup and reflect on what has been a challenging few weeks in his otherwise stellar career.
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