Carlos Alcaraz Exits US Open 2024 After Stunning Defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp
Third-ranked Alcaraz was hoping to make history by winning the US Open, Wimbledon, and French Open all in the same year.
But the Netherlands’ van de Zandschulp, ranked 74th, put an end to his hopes with a commanding performance.
Surprisingly, Botic van de Zandschulp defeated third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open 2024. At Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, the Spanish tennis player, who was a heavy favorite to win the championship, lost in straight sets, 1-6, 5-6, 4-6.
This loss also marked the end of the world number three’s attempt to become just the third man in modern history to win the US Open, Wimbledon, and French Open all in the same season.
Alcaraz had advanced to at least the quarterfinals in each of his three prior trips to New York, and this Thursday’s loss marked his first Grand Slam defeat since his 2021 Wimbledon second-round fall.
Alcaraz was the pre-tournament favorite to win the trophy once more. He had already won the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July, bringing his career total to four major titles. He also won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2022.
However, he was never able to establish himself against the 28-year-old Dutchman van de Zandschulp. Alcaraz was wildly inaccurate, missing shots that he usually makes on a regular basis. The third-seeded Alcaraz stumbled toward the locker room after double-faulting to fall behind two sets to none, a deficit he has never recovered from. He threw his equipment bag over his shoulder.
With a quick glance at his coach, 2003 French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz gestured with his right index finger, pointing it at his temple, as though to suggest that he wasn’t thinking well.
Perhaps he should have been forgiven for being perplexed by what was happening on a chilly evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium under the closed retractable roof.
The 21-year-old Spanish player arrived to the U.S. Open with a 16-2 record; in his three prior appearances, he had never lost before the quarterfinals. Alcaraz has never lost in the opening round of a Slam event, and this was also his first defeat at any significant tournament since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in 2021 while still a teenager.
The first set on Thursday was really uneven. Even though van de Zandschulp had won their previous two meetings, Alcaraz never seemed to settle in as his strong forehands and serves, which can reach speeds of up to 132 mph, consistently found their targets.
In that set, Alcaraz failed to produce a single victory and lost by a close margin of 24 to 13. Van de Zandschulp won 6-5 after a double fault that accompanied a service break. He performed marginally better in the second set. After one and a half hours of play, van de Zandschulp sealed a hold at love to take the first two sets when Alcaraz pushed a forehand wide to conclude the following game.
Alcaraz lost ground quickly in the third, falling behind 3-2, but he quickly got back on track — well, with some assistance, as van de Zandschulp’s double-fault gave up a break that tied it 3-all. Then, as he strode to the changeover, Alcaraz grinned and held at love.
Van de Zandschulp never gave up, and Alcaraz’s errors kept coming, so that smile soon vanished.
