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
Follow us on:
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has condemned the commercialisation of GMO seeds, warning of threats to Nigeria’s food…
Oleksandr Usyk has secured victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, successfully defending his heavyweight championship…
Albania plans a one-year TikTok ban from January after a schoolboy’s death sparks concerns over…
A suspect accused of killing five people by driving into a crowded Christmas market in…
A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea by the…
NNPC has reduced petrol ex-depot price to N899 per litre, sparking competition with Dangote Refinery…
View Comments
O8O__6739__9O9O!!!!! GREETINGS GREETINGS GREETINGS!!!!!
:
VEHICLES
BAGS OF RICE
BALES OF CLOTHES
VEGITABLES OIL ETC. ALSO THE REPLACEMENT FROM IS OUT NOW,
THOSE ARE THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW WITH THEIR PRICEGolf2 #300,000
Golf 3 #3500,000
Golf4 #400, 000
Golf 5 #420,000
Dyna truck 900k
Tipper head 6m
Toyota Camry big daddy=#750,000
Toyota Camry tiny light=#500,000
Toyota Venza=#1.4million
Toyota Matrix=#750,000
Toyota Avalon=#930,000
Toyota 4Runner=# 950,000
Toyota Avensis=#900,000
Toyota Corolla=#850,000
Toyota Rav4=#1.1million
IS250 1m
Es330 1.6m
Toyota Highlander=#1.3million
Toyota Tacoma=#1.5million
Toyota Prado=#1.2million
Toyota Yaris=#750,000
Toyota sienna=#850,000
Toyota Hilux=#2.5million
Toyota Tundra=#2.8million
Spider 1m800k
Muscle 1m900k
Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.Million
Benz ML550=2.6million
Toyota Sequoia #900,000
Toyota Haice Bus=#1,000,000
Toyota Camry muscle=#850,000 Toyota picnic=#800,000
Lexus RX300=#1.2million
Lexus RX330=#1.4million
Lexus RX350#=2.1million
Lexus GX460=#2.4million
Honda Accord EOD=#450,000
Honda Baby boy=#500,000
Honda Civic=#700,000
Honda Pilot=#750,000
Honda CR-V=#800,000
Honda Crosstour=#1m950,000
BMW X5=#1.2million
BMW X6=#1.6million
Infinity FX35 = #1.7million
Infinity QX45=#1.2million
Infinity QX4=#950,000
Nissan Murano=#900,000
Nissan Pathinder=#950,000
Nissan Altima=#800,000
Nissan Maxima=#630,000
Acura MDX=#1.2million
Benz ML350=2 million
Acura ZDX=#1.3million
Acura TL=#1 million
Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.3Million
Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.8Million
Range rover sport HSE=#3.5million Land rover discovery=#2.3millon
Land rover freelander=#8.2million
Gwagon=#7MILLION. E.T.C
O80-_-_6739_-_-9O90〽.