Carlos Alcaraz’s 15-match grand slam unbeaten run 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 on Friday (AEST).
Alcaraz gained the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July to boost his profession whole to 4 main championships, together with taking the title at Flushing Meadows in 2022, and was the pre-tournament favorite to depart with the trophy once more.
However he by no means discovered his footing in opposition to van de Zandschulp, a 28-year-old from the Netherlands.
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Alcaraz was approach 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 No.3-seeded Alcaraz slung his tools 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, as if to say: “I am not considering straight.”
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He might need been excused for being confused by what was transpiring underneath 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 quarter-finals 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 young person – he is by no means misplaced within the first spherical at a slam occasion.
The opening set was unbelievably lopsided.
With van de Zandschulp’s highly effective forehands and serves at as much as 212 kph discovering their marks, Alcaraz by no means appeared to get comfy – even when he had gained their previous two matchups.
Alcaraz didn’t produce a single winner in that set and was almost doubled up in whole factors, 24-13.
The second set was a bit higher for him, however not sufficient so, and a double fault present 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 90 minutes 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 a result of van de Zandschulp’s double fault ceded a break that made it 3-3.
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.