In a stunning turn of events at the U.S. Open, former champion Carlos Alcaraz’s impressive Grand Slam winning streak came to an abrupt end on Thursday. The Spanish third seed, who had been riding high on a 15-match winning run at Grand Slams, fell to unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in a surprising second-round upset.
Van de Zandschulp, currently ranked 74th in the world, delivered a masterful performance, defeating Alcaraz in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. The match, played on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium, left spectators and pundits alike in disbelief as the 21-year-old Spaniard struggled to find his rhythm throughout the contest.
From the outset, Alcaraz appeared off-color and uncharacteristically error-prone. The young star, who had recently claimed victories at both the French Open and Wimbledon, found himself unable to recover from a shaky start. His usually formidable game was marred by unforced errors, allowing Van de Zandschulp to capitalise and maintain control of the match.
“I don’t know what to say right now,” a visibly disappointed Alcaraz commented post-match. “First of all, I think he played great. He didn’t make a lot of mistakes that I thought he was going to do, so I was confused a little bit. I didn’t know how to manage that.”
The match saw Alcaraz constantly on the back foot, with Van de Zandschulp’s resolute defending and strategic play proving too much for the Spaniard to handle. Despite brief moments of brilliance, including a stunning forehand pass in the second set, Alcaraz’s struggles to close out points persisted throughout the encounter.
A tactical adjustment to return serve from deeper in the court briefly seemed to give Alcaraz hope, but unforced errors, including a costly double fault, continued to plague his performance. “I didn’t feel well hitting the ball,” Alcaraz admitted. “I think I made a lot of mistakes and when I wanted to come back … it was too late.”
For Van de Zandschulp, who has battled injuries to his left foot over the past two years, this victory marks the pinnacle of his career thus far. The former New York quarter-finalist expressed his elation after the match, stating, “It’s been an incredible evening. First time for me having a night session on Arthur Ashe. The crowd was amazing. Thank you for that. Unbelievable night.”
The Dutch player’s unwavering belief and composure were key to his success. “I think from point one here today I believed (I had) a chance,” he reflected. “I had some nerves but if you want to beat one of these guys you have to be unbelievably calm and keep your head there.”
This early exit marks Alcaraz’s worst performance at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2021. For the Paris Olympics silver medallist, it’s a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of tennis at the highest level.
As the tournament progresses, Van de Zandschulp will look to build on this monumental victory when he faces Britain’s Jack Draper in the next round. Meanwhile, Alcaraz will undoubtedly be eager to regroup and return to the form that has made him one of tennis’s brightest young stars.
Melissa Enoch
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