Carlos Alcaraz’s 15-match grand slam unbeaten run has ended on the US Open with a sloppy 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 loss to 74th-ranked Botic van de Zandschulp within the second spherical.
Alcaraz received the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July to lift his profession complete to 4 main championships, together with taking the title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, and was the pre-tournament favorite to go away with the trophy once more.
However he by no means discovered his footing towards van de Zandschulp, a 28-year-old from the Netherlands.
Alcaraz was manner off, repeatedly lacking the kinds of pictures he normally makes routinely.
After double-faulting to fall behind two units to none — a deficit he is by no means overcome — the quantity three-seeded Alcaraz slung his gear bag over this shoulder and trudged towards the locker room.
Glancing within the course of his coach, 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz pointed his proper index finger at his temple, then wagged that finger dismissively.
He may need been excused for being confused by what was transpiring beneath the closed retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium on a cold night.
The 21-year-old from Spain got here in with a 16-2 file on the US Open, the place he by no means had been eradicated earlier than the quarterfinals in three earlier appearances.
This additionally was Alcaraz’s earliest loss at any main event since bowing out within the second spherical of Wimbledon in 2021 as a youngster — he is by no means misplaced within the first spherical at a Slam occasion.
The opening set Thursday was unbelievably lopsided. With van de Zandschulp’s highly effective forehands and serves at as much as 212kph discovering their marks, Alcaraz by no means appeared to get snug — even when he had received their previous two match-ups.
Alcaraz didn’t produce a single winner in that set and was practically doubled up in complete factors, 24-13.
The second set was a bit higher for him, however not sufficient so, and a double-fault gift-wrapped a service break that put van de Zandschulp up 6-5. When Alcaraz pushed a forehand vast to finish the following recreation, van de Zandschulp completed off a maintain at love that gave him the preliminary two units after 1.5 hours of motion.
It did not take lengthy for Alcaraz to fall behind by a break within the third, too, at 3-2, however he made a stand instantly — with some assist, as van de Zandschulp’s double-fault ceded a break that made it 3-all. Alcaraz then held at love and smiled as he strutted to the changeover.
That smile was shortly gone, although, as a result of Alcaraz’s errors saved arriving, and van de Zandschulp by no means folded.
AP
