Carlos Alcaraz knocked out in early US Open upset

In a major second-round upset at the US Open, Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz was defeated by Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who is ranked 74 in the world, concluding their match 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. This unexpected loss at Arthur Ashe Stadium marks Alcaraz’s earliest Grand Slam exit since Wimbledon 2021 and disrupts his 15-match unbeaten streak at the US Open.

Alcaraz, currently world No. 3, faced difficulties from the start and was unable to recover, committing 28 errors in total. Van de Zandschulp, who captured his first win at a major against a top-10 opponent, expressed his disbelief and gratitude to the crowd after the match. "This is my first night session here at Arthur Ashe. The crowd was unbelievable," he said on ESPN, mentioning his effort to stay calm to secure his historic victory.

Alcaraz, showing sportsmanship, congratulated his opponent and acknowledged the crowd before leaving the court. Despite having his left thigh heavily strapped, his significant problem was the proficiency of the 28-year-old Dutch player. In their head-to-head battle, Alcaraz’s errors played a crucial role, especially when he missed key opportunities to break back during both the second and third sets.

The milestone victory not only ended Alcaraz’s championship run but also highlighted van de Zandschulp as the first Dutchman to defeat a top-three player in a Grand Slam since 1996. The Dutchman will face British 25th seed Jack Draper in the third round, aiming to further his remarkable journey at the tournament.

Earlier, SSP wrote that national defender Juan Izquierdo died at age 27 after on-pitch collapse.