In the second round of the US Open, unseeded Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Carlos Alcaraz 6-1 7-5 6-4, ending the Spaniard’s grand slam winning streak.
Alcaraz’s 15-match winning run at the majors came to an end as the Dutchman took advantage of his unforced errors and shaky start. The champion of the French Open and Wimbledon was defeated.
The Dutchman broke again in the sixth game to win the first set, putting the 21-year-old on the back foot early on as Van de Zandschulp won the first three games with some fierce back-of-the-court defense.
In the opening game of the subsequent set, Alcaraz produced an impressive forehand pass to hold serve, but Van de Zandschulp’s break to take a 2-1 lead brought back the four-time major winner’s inability to close out points.
Alcaraz expressed his thoughts after the loss and said: “It was a fight against myself in my mind during the match. In tennis, you are playing against someone who wants the same as you. To win. You have to be as calm as you can to think better in the match and try to do good things. Today I was playing against the opponent as well as myself in my mind. A lot of emotions I couldn’t control. I was up on some points. Then I’d lose some points and get down. It was a rollercoaster in my mind. It can’t be like that if I want to think about big things. I have to improve it. I have to learn about it.”
He added: “I don’t know what to say right now. First of all, he played great. He played really good tennis. I thought he would give me more free points. He didn’t make a lot of mistakes I thought he was going to make.. it was confusing a bit. I didn’t know how to manage or deal with it. I couldn’t increase my level. I think my level stayed the same the whole match. It wasn’t enough to do it or to give myself the chance to get into the match or try to give myself chances. So what can I say? I didn’t feel well hitting the ball. I made a lot of mistakes. When I wanted to come back it was too late.”
Carlos Alcaraz on his loss to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open
“Did you not feel 100%?”
Carlos: “I don’t know what to say right now. First of all he played great. He played really good tennis. I thought he would give me more free points. He didn’t make a lot of mistakes I… pic.twitter.com/01zs893OHT
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz says he was fighting with himself during his match against van de Zanschulp at US Open, ‘It was a rollercoaster in my mind… it can’t be like that’
“What were your emotions like during the match and what are you feeling right now?”
Carlos: “It was a fight against… pic.twitter.com/FIXkIS2aZ9
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 30, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz in 2024
LWLLWWWWWW Currently ranked no.3, the Spaniard played his last match on the 29th of August when he lost to world no.74 Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-1 7-5 6-4 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
During this season the Spaniard achieved an overall 39-9 record. Carlos conquered 3 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open and Wimbledon. Carlos was the finalist in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz will fight against the world no.354 Gabi Adrian Boitan in the . In the past, they have never competed against each other up to now on the main tour.
The Spaniard has won 3 titles in 2024 in Indian Wells, French Open and Wimbledon. Alcaraz was the runner-up in Paris (Olympics).
The Spaniard won 16 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
