Carlos Alcaraz’s 15-match Grand Slam unbeaten run came to an end at the U.S. Open when he lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round. Alcaraz, who won the French Open and Wimbledon earlier in the year, was the pre-tournament favorite to win the tournament again but struggled against his opponent. Alcaraz appeared off his game, missing shots he would typically make easily and never recovering from a two set deficit, ultimately losing the match in straight sets.
Despite his previous success at the U.S. Open and strong performance in other major tournaments, Alcaraz seemed out of sorts and unable to find his rhythm in the match. Van de Zandschulp, with his powerful forehands and serves, dominated the match and never allowed Alcaraz to get comfortable on the court. Alcaraz’s errors and van de Zandschulp’s consistent play ultimately led to his defeat in a lopsided match.
This loss marked Alcaraz’s earliest exit from a major tournament since Wimbledon in 2021 and his first loss at the U.S. Open before the quarterfinals. Despite making a brief comeback in the third set, Alcaraz’s mistakes continued, and van de Zandschulp maintained his composure to secure the victory. For Alcaraz, it was a disappointing end to his successful Grand Slam run, but van de Zandschulp’s strong performance deserved credit for the upset victory.
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